GTA 6 reviews: no embargo date and no scores yet

When Rockstar's last big games were reviewed

Both times, reviews went live the day before release, going by the dates on Metacritic's critic lists. The same gap would put GTA 6 reviews on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. That is precedent only. Rockstar has said nothing about review copies, embargo timing or which outlets get early access.

Previews are not reviews

In July 2026, press and creators visited Rockstar North and watched co-studio head Rob Nelson play, in sessions that ran 30 minutes to about 2.5 hours depending on the outlet. Nobody held a controller. reported Their write-ups, published August 27, are first impressions of a guided demo. What they revealed is collected on the GTA 6 gameplay hub, and the footage Rockstar released the same day is in the Extended Look breakdown.

Game Informer's GTA VI cover story is not a review either. The magazine says it is a 14-page feature with interviews with several Rockstar lead designers and 12 new screenshots, with the digital issue out September 29, 2026. reported It is a feature written before launch from interviews and screenshots, not a verdict on the finished game. Our Game Informer cover story post covers what it promises.

Clips from the August 2026 leaks are not reviews either, and they are not a guide to the finished game. We do not link to them; the leaks page covers what happened.

Watch for fake scores

Until the embargo lifts, any "GTA 6 review score" or Metacritic screenshot is invented. Metacritic's user score also reads "tbd" and opens only once the game is out. If a score appears before Rockstar or the outlets confirm an embargo, check the outlet's own site before sharing it.

GTA 6 and the 2026 game of the year awards

GTA 6 is not among the Golden Joystick nominees announced so far, and whether it can compete at The Game Awards this year is not settled.

• Golden Joystick Awards, Wednesday November 11, 2026. The nominee list the organizer published on September 25 has GTA VI in none of the categories announced so far. GTA Online is nominated in the PC and console Still Playing category. Public voting closes October 23, and the Ultimate Game of the Year shortlist follows on October 26. Push Square reports that nominations had to be in by August 28 and that GTA 6 becomes eligible for the 2027 awards. reported
• The Game Awards, December 10, 2026. Its FAQ still says "Eligibility dates for The Game Awards 2026 will be announced in Fall 2026" (checked September 28). Until those dates are out, nobody can say whether a game released on November 19 qualifies this year, and past years' cutoffs are not a rule. not announced

We will add any GTA 6 nominations here when they are announced.

Our review roundup

When the embargo lifts we will list every major outlet's score here, with a one-line summary and a link to the full review, and track the Metacritic and OpenCritic averages as they settle. Until then, the best signals of a finished game are the gone gold announcement and the launch trailer.

Where to buy

Pre-order the boxed GTA VI

Amazon

Amazon sells the boxed Standard Edition: a download code in the box, no disc. Amazon delivers from November 12, the day pre-load opens, and standard delivery can arrive later, so check the date at checkout. The game unlocks November 19.

PS5GTA VI · PS5Standard Edition: a download code in the box, no disc, for US and Canadian PlayStation accounts. Amazon delivers from November 12, with release-day delivery for Prime members; it unlocks November 19.Pre-order on Amazon→Xbox Series X|SGTA VI · XboxStandard Edition: a download code in the box, no disc. Amazon delivers from November 12, with release-day delivery for Prime members; it unlocks November 19.Pre-order on Amazon→PS5GTA VI DualSenseSony's official Grand Theft Auto VI Limited Edition controller in white, out November 19.Pre-order on Amazon→

Amazon's Pre-order Price Guarantee: "the price we charge when we ship it to you will be the lowest price offered by Amazon.com between the time you placed your order and the end of the day of the release date." Amazon's help page adds that it "does not apply to lower prices offered through any program that requires a customer to join the program to receive the lower price." Amazon's release date for the GTA VI boxes is November 12.

Amazon's listing offers Prime members release-day delivery on November 12. New members can start a 30-day free trial (Amazon, checked September 28); a trial started before mid-October runs out before November 12, so start it later or keep the membership. Try Prime on AmazonPaid link: Amazon pays GTA6.how a fee if you sign up. As an Amazon Associate, GTA6.how earns from qualifying purchases.

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