GTA 6 Review Copies Could Reportedly Be Sent Out Three Weeks Before Launch
Rockstar Games may be taking a careful but practical approach to Grand Theft Auto 6 reviews, with reports suggesting that critics could receive access to the game around three weeks before release. If accurate, that would give reviewers a meaningful amount of time to explore Vice City, the wider state of Leonida, and the massive amount of content expected in one of the most anticipated games in modern history.
Earlier this year, Brazilian journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe claimed that Rockstar was considering inviting members of the press to a private, undisclosed location to play GTA 6 under controlled conditions. The idea was reportedly aimed at reducing the risk of leaks before launch. While that kind of review process is not unheard of for high-profile releases, it would be unusual for a game as large as Grand Theft Auto 6.
Most major publishers typically provide review copies, either physical or digital, ahead of release so critics can play through the game in their own time. For GTA 6, that may be especially important. Fans are expecting a campaign and open-world experience that could easily take 50 hours or more to properly evaluate. With Leonida said to be larger and more detailed than any previous Rockstar open world, keeping reviewers in one location for the entire process may simply not be realistic.
If reviewers do get three weeks or more with GTA 6, that could help ensure more complete and thoughtful reviews at launch. A game of this scale will likely require time not only to finish the main story, but also to explore side missions, activities, world events, technical performance, character writing, driving, combat, and the overall sense of immersion that Rockstar games are known for.
Of course, early review access also raises a familiar concern: leaks.
The gaming industry has already seen several major titles suffer from unauthorized footage appearing online before official embargoes lifted. High-profile games have had gameplay clips, story details, and early impressions spread across social media far earlier than publishers intended. Given the enormous attention surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6, Rockstar has every reason to be cautious.
However, the risk may be lower if Rockstar avoids distributing physical discs and instead relies on controlled digital access for reviewers. Without PS5 or Xbox discs circulating before release, it becomes harder for copies to end up in the wrong hands. Still, with a game as closely watched as GTA 6, even a brief clip or screenshot could spread rapidly across the internet.
There is also an ongoing debate among fans about whether GTA 6 even needs traditional reviews. The game is expected to generate enormous sales regardless of critic scores, and pre-release interest is already massive. For many players, Grand Theft Auto 6 is not a question of “if” they will buy it, but “when.”
Even so, reviews still matter. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick previously emphasized the importance of critical reception, pointing out that Rockstar titles have historically achieved extremely high average review scores. The studio’s biggest games have often landed in the mid-to-high 90s on major review aggregation platforms, setting a very high standard for GTA 6 to meet.
That expectation has made review score predictions a hot topic. Some industry commentators have suggested that GTA 6 may struggle to fully live up to the overwhelming hype, with possible scores landing lower than many fans expect. Predictions in the low-to-high 80s have already sparked backlash from players who believe Rockstar’s next open-world blockbuster is likely to score much higher.
For now, nothing is official. Rockstar has not publicly confirmed when review copies will be sent out or how it plans to manage early access for the press. But if the reported three-week review window proves accurate, it suggests the studio wants critics to have enough time to properly experience the game while still trying to limit leaks.
With GTA 6 set to return players to Vice City and introduce the expansive new setting of Leonida, the pressure on Rockstar could not be higher. Whether the final reviews reach the sky-high scores fans expect or land below the most optimistic predictions, one thing is clear: Grand Theft Auto 6 will be one of the most closely watched game launches of the decade.
