GTA 6 Review Copies Reportedly to Be Sent to Media by End of October

Review copies of Grand Theft Auto VI are reportedly set to be distributed to media outlets by the end of October, despite ongoing concerns about potential leaks. Rockstar Games is understood to be arranging for select media to test the game in secure, undisclosed locations to minimize the risk of further leaks, a deviation from their usual practice of sending out review units.

While a notable leaker has claimed to cease their activities, the review process itself is still seen as a potential source of spoilers. Insider Gaming had previously reported that review embargoes would lift before the game's official launch on November 19. However, more recent information from industry sources indicates that review copies will be made available to the press considerably earlier, by the end of October.

Typically, publishers provide media with physical or digital copies well ahead of a game's release. Given GTA 6's anticipated length, estimated at over 50 hours for the main story, the logistics of group testing in isolation could be challenging. The game's map, reportedly named Leonida, is said to be larger than any previous Rockstar open world, potentially giving reviewers up to three weeks to explore.

Rockstar faces precedent for pre-release leaks, with titles like Marvel's Wolverine and Silent Hill: The Short Message experiencing early spoilers. The absence of physical disc releases for GTA 6 on Xbox and PlayStation 5 might mitigate some of these risks. Despite strong pre-sale figures, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has affirmed the importance of professional critical reviews, noting Rockstar titles consistently achieve high Metacritic scores.