Confirmed said or shown by Rockstar or Take-TwoPreview report from press previews or credible reportingRumor / leak unverified
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
Rockstar hasn't announced a review date. Confirmed Reviews for big games go live at a fixed time agreed with the publisher, called the review embargo, and Rockstar usually doesn't reveal it in advance.
Going by Rockstar's last two launches, the most likely window is one or two days before November 19, or on launch day itself. That's our estimate from past patterns, not an announcement. We'll update this page as soon as a date is confirmed.
How Rockstar handled reviews before
| Game | Release | Reviews went live | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTA V | September 17, 2013 | September 16, 2013 | 97 (PS3) |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | October 26, 2018 | October 25, 2018 | 97 (PS4) |
| GTA 6 | November 19, 2026 | Not announced | Not live |
Both times, scores appeared the day before release. A similar plan would put GTA 6 reviews out around November 18.
Will critics get review copies?
Possibly not in the usual way. In May, Brazilian journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe said Rockstar won't send review codes, and will instead invite critics to play at locations it controls, on its own hardware. YouTuber Nukov made a similar claim on the Insider Gaming podcast. Rumor / leak Neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has commented.
It would fit how Rockstar has run GTA 6 so far. The August previews were held at Rockstar North in Edinburgh rather than sent out, the physical box contains a download code instead of a disc, and Rockstar has dealt with two major leaks. The GTA 6 leaks explained. The worry with supervised sessions is that critics get less time with an 80-hour game, under conditions the publisher sets.
Does Take-Two care about scores?
Yes. In an interview with The Game Business in May, CEO Strauss Zelnick said that years ago it was "easier – not easy, but easier – to handpick the journalists you wanted to review that game ahead of time", and that today "Rockstar are going to get, from the gates, some dissenting voices." Confirmed In other words, he expects some negative takes on day one, and doesn't think they change how good the game is.
Will reviews be in time for The Game Awards?
That's the tight part. The Game Awards 2026 is on December 10, and last year's jury voted before nominees were announced in mid-November, which would be before GTA 6 is out. Preview report Unless the jury gets early access, GTA 6 could miss this year's Game of the Year race. The Golden Joystick Awards, on November 11, come before launch. GTA 6 and The Game Awards, explained.
Watch out for fake reviews and spoilers
Anything calling itself a GTA 6 review before the embargo lifts is fake. Earlier this year, user "reviews" and ratings appeared on HowLongToBeat months before anyone could have played the game. Preview report Story spoilers from leaked footage are a bigger risk. If you want to stay clean, mute "GTA 6" on social media in the week before launch, and read reviews from outlets that say they finished the story.
Reviews FAQ
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
Rockstar hasn't announced a date. Based on GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, whose reviews went live a day before release, the most likely window is around November 17 to 19, 2026.
Will there be early GTA 6 review copies?
Not confirmed. A Brazilian journalist reported in May that Rockstar will hold supervised review sessions at its own locations instead of sending codes. Rockstar hasn't commented.
What is GTA 6's Metacritic score?
There isn't one yet. Metacritic scores appear once the review embargo lifts. GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 both scored 97.
Will GTA 6 reviews come out before launch?
Probably, but only just. Rockstar's last two games had reviews published the day before release.
Are there real GTA 6 reviews online already?
No. Any review or rating published before the embargo lifts is fake, including user ratings on sites like HowLongToBeat.