Rockstar Games has broken its silence. After several days marked by the online release of numerous Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay videos , the studio published a lengthy statement on Wednesday to officially address the leaks. The company stated it was deeply saddened by the premature release of these images and confirmed that the development of GTA VI is nearing completion. Crucially, Rockstar is maintaining its two scheduled events: the in-depth presentation of Grand Theft Auto VI will indeed take place on Thursday, August 27, and the game's release remains set for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Gameplay videos released before the official presentation
For several days, clips purported to be from a playable version of GTA VI have been circulating widely on social media. Several videos have been removed following copyright claims, but new images have continued to surface. These leaks notably show Jason Duvall, one of the two main protagonists along with Lucia, in various gameplay situations. Some also offer glimpses of Vice City and several game mechanics. Rockstar Games had remained silent until now. On the eve of its major official presentation, the studio has finally decided to speak publicly.
Rockstar describes it as "heartbreaking" for its teams
In its statement, Rockstar doesn't hide the impact these leaks have on the developers. The studio explains that after all these years of work, it obviously wanted to present its game itself and control how the public would experience the first extended gameplay sequences. The company also acknowledges the particularly long wait surrounding GTA VI . But above all, it reveals an important piece of information about the project's status: the game is now "almost" finished. This clarification comes less than three months before its release, still scheduled for November 19, 2026.
The big GTA VI presentation is still on for Thursday
The leaks will not alter Rockstar's planned promotional schedule. Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look , the in-depth presentation of the game announced in early August, will air on Thursday, August 27. It will initially be available on Netflix at 15 p.m. Eastern Time (21 p.m. in mainland France). A six-hour exclusive preview is planned before its release on the official Rockstar Games YouTube channel and the GTA VI website . This presentation is intended to be the first truly in-depth official look at the game after the two trailers already released. Rockstar has not yet specified its exact duration or the full content.
The release date remains set for November 19, 2026.
Another important point: no further changes to the release date have been announced. After several delays, Grand Theft Auto VI is still scheduled for release on Thursday, November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar initially planned a 2025 release before pushing the title back to May 26, 2026, and then to November 19. The studio now states that it is in the final stages of development and asks players to avoid spoilers from leaks as much as possible so they can experience the game for themselves upon its release.
Here is the full statement from Rockstar Games :
" Dear All,
We know many of you are eagerly awaiting news about last week's events. To say that the leak of those Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay videos was heartbreaking for our team would be an understatement, and it's certainly not how we planned to present the game to you after all this time. We're truly sorry that everything has taken so long, from finalizing the game (we're almost there!), to sharing more details and official gameplay footage, and providing the community with all the information you want to know.
We're eager for everyone to experience this in-depth presentation tomorrow. Its preparation has taken longer than anticipated, but as with everything we do, we know we must exceed your expectations, and we're determined to deliver a result that lives up to your hopes and what you deserve. While it's unfortunate that the planned gameplay experience may now be affected by some spoilers, we hope everyone will be patient a little longer and experience the game for themselves on November 19th.
We want to thank all the community members who sent us messages of support this week: your words meant more to our team than you can imagine. Ultimately, we create this game for you, and without you, we wouldn't have the privilege of creating games.
We look forward to telling you more very soon.
Sincerely,
Rockstar Games »
GTA VI enters its final stretch
Despite the extent of the leaks, Rockstar Games is not changing its plans. The August 27th presentation is still on, the studio assures players they are close to finishing the game, and the November 19th release date remains unchanged. After years of waiting and several delays, GTA VI is set to return players to Vice City, in the fictional state of Leonida, with Jason and Lucia as the main characters. Thursday's presentation should now allow Rockstar to officially showcase in detail the game they are preparing for its release in less than three months.
