Leaks and more leaks.
The gaming industry seems to be in desperate need of tighter security, with continuous leaks surfacing over the past few weeks–from Forza Horizon 6 to Subnautica 2, and now yet another premature reveal affecting the most-anticipated game of the decade, GTA 6.
Apparently, the game’s pre-order dates have leaked, with pre-orders expected to go live on 18 May, just next week. The information was shared by several users who reportedly received affiliate emails from Best Buy, which explicitly stated that the GTA 6 (Physical Copies) campaign would run from 18 to 21 May.
For those unfamiliar, an affiliate link is a unique link assigned to each user, allowing them to earn a commission for every purchase made through it.
It appears that Best Buy may have prematurely sent out the emails before Rockstar officially announced the pre-order dates, likely by accident. This reveal has also sparked speculation that the highly anticipated third GTA 6 trailer–likely featuring a first-look at the actual gameplay–could be just around the corner.
Grand Theft Auto 6
Release Date: 18 November, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S Series, PC for a later date
Developer: Rockstar Games
Are GTA 6 pre-orders going live in May?
However, as with all unofficial information, the leaked pre-order dates may or may not be accurate. Still, the claims appear highly credible, given that they originate from multiple sources. The timing also aligns with Rockstar’s previously mentioned “launch marketing” schedule, with the studio stating that its marketing campaign would begin this summer.
The sixth main instalment in the franchise has now been delayed twice. It was initially scheduled for release in 2025 before being pushed to May 2026, and later delayed again to November this same year.
Rockstar made it clear that additional time was needed to complete development, especially with mounting expectations and a reportedly skyrocketing budget of over US$1 billion, making GTA 6 an enormous undertaking to finalise.
That said, GTA 6 feels closer than ever. The game is currently slated for release on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles, while a PC version is expected to arrive at a later date.
