Grand Theft Auto VI exists in its own universe

Rockstar’s latest epic is almost here, and it seems nothing can stop it.

Rockstar’s latest epic is almost here, and it seems nothing can stop it.

Four years ago, fans got a long-awaited look at Grand Theft Auto VI with a huge cache of videos that showed off Rockstar’s latest open-world epic. There were 90 videos in total, providing a glimpse at the next-generation take on Vice City, introducing the game’s new dual protagonists, and generally showing off the crime-fueled mayhem the series is known for. The twist? This wasn’t some official reveal. The videos were part of a massive leak in September 2022 that ultimately ended with a life sentence in a secure hospital for the hacker , and they dropped months before Rockstar properly unveiled GTA VI to the world with its debut trailer .

For many video game studios, a leak of that magnitude would be devastating. But not Rockstar: Following the unprecedented success of GTA V , which has sold more than 230 million copies across PC and three generations of consoles, it seems like there is little that can impact the studio in the lead-up to the sequel’s much-hyped launch. GTA VI ’s first trailer was leaked less than a day before it was set to premiere in December 2023, and yet the official video went on to garner nearly 290 million views on YouTube.

That’s not all that has happened on the long road to launch. Outside of the leaks, the studio has also been accused of union busting , GTA VI has been delayed multiple times , and the game, which won’t be available on a disc, has been viewed as a worrying sign for the future of physical media . But none of that has done much to slow down Rockstar or the relentless force that is its next game. And next week the hype is poised to reach a new level: A gameplay trailer for GTA VI will premiere on Netflix , available to subscribers six hours before everyone else can watch it on YouTube. It’s a huge marketing coup, and the type of thing only GTA VI can get away with.

The lead-up to the Netflix premiere hasn’t exactly been smooth. Over the last week further leaks have spread unofficial gameplay clips across platforms like Discord and X , and Rockstar has flexed its legal muscles, subpoenaing both Microsoft and Discord in hopes of finding the culprit . This had led to some frustration internally, and potentially changes to how Rockstar approaches security, according to a Bloomberg report . But, once again, it doesn’t seem to have put a dent in the fervor around the game. GTA VI is so big that even small updates, like a cover art reveal, rack up millions of views . And this has allowed Rockstar to do things no one else can. It can reveal gameplay through a mainstream platform like Netflix, and maintain sustained interest in the game despite only releasing two trailers over the span of several years.

“ Grand Theft Auto reveals have become cultural moments in their own right,” Netflix exec Brandon Riegg said when announcing the gameplay reveal.