GTA 6 reviews are expected on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, one day before the game launches on November 19. That date is reported, not official: Rockstar has not announced a review embargo. Below is what the reports say, how Rockstar timed reviews for GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, and what the embargo time would mean where you live.
What is reported, and by whom
| Claim | Who says so | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews go live November 18 | Insider NateTheHate on X (Oct 26); Insider Gaming says it verified the date separately | Reported |
| Review codes went out in late October | NateTheHate; reported by GameWatcher and GTA BOOM | Reported |
| Review copies carry personal watermarks | A social media claim, denied by Tom Henderson and NateTheHate on Oct 29 | Denied |
| Exact embargo time | Nobody has reported it | Unknown |
| Launch on November 19 | Rockstar | Official |
Insider Gaming’s record on Rockstar dates is good, and a day-before embargo matches Rockstar’s past habits. We still treat November 18 as reported until Rockstar or a reviewing outlet confirms it.
How Rockstar timed its last two big launches
| Game | Embargo lifted | Launch | Gap | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTA V (PS3) | Mon, Sep 16, 2013, 3pm BST / 7am PT | Sep 17, 2013 | 1 day | 97 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4) | Thu, Oct 25, 2018, 7:01am ET | Oct 26, 2018 | 1 day | 97 |
| GTA 6 | Nov 18, 2026 Reported | Nov 19, 2026 Official | 1 day | TBA |
Embargo times for GTA V come from PlayStation Universe in 2013, and for RDR2 from Forbes in 2018. Scores are from our Rockstar review scores guide. GTA IV holds a 98, and GTA V and RDR2 a 97 each, so the bar is very high.
What time would GTA 6 reviews go live?
Our math Nobody has reported a time. If Rockstar repeats one of its last two patterns, these are the two likely windows:
| Scenario | Los Angeles | New York | London | Madrid / Paris | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTA V pattern (7am PT) | Nov 18, 7:00 | Nov 18, 10:00 | Nov 18, 15:00 | Nov 18, 16:00 | Nov 19, 02:00 |
| RDR2 pattern (7:01am ET) | Nov 18, 4:01 | Nov 18, 7:01 | Nov 18, 12:01 | Nov 18, 13:01 | Nov 18, 23:01 |
One quirk: GTA 6 is reported to unlock at midnight local time, which puts New Zealand first, at 11:00 GMT on November 18 (see our release time by country guide). With either pattern, players in New Zealand would already be playing before reviews go live.
Will GTA 6 make The Game Awards?
Official The Game Awards’ FAQ says games released by November 20, 2026 at 9pm PT are eligible, so GTA 6 qualifies. Nominees are due in mid-November, possibly before the reviews. The show is on December 10. We track the race in best-reviewed games of 2026.
Our checklist for review day
- Do not cancel a pre-order on day-one scores alone. The Vintage Vice City Pack bonus needs an order placed before November 20, and preloading opens on November 12.
- Look for the platform. Early reviews may be from PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. Series S performance is often covered later.
- Wait for a technical analysis. Rockstar has said the game targets 30fps on consoles, so frame-rate tests matter. See our GTA 6 FPS guide.
- Watch out for spoilers. Mute “GTA 6” on social media on November 18 if you want to go in fresh.
- Check aggregate scores, not one review. Metacritic and OpenCritic fill up over the first 24 hours.
Other things happening on November 18
Official The Miami Heat play the Milwaukee Bucks as “Vice City” that night at 7pm ET, on a themed court and in one-off uniforms, as part of GTA 6’s marketing (announced by the Heat on October 2 and reported by VGC and Destructoid). The game unlocks on the U.S. East Coast five hours later.
Frequently asked questions
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
Reportedly on November 18, 2026, one day before launch. Insider Gaming and NateTheHate report this date; Rockstar has not confirmed it.
What time does the GTA 6 review embargo lift?
No time has been reported. GTA V reviews went live at 7am PT and RDR2 reviews at 7:01am ET, both one day before launch.
Have GTA 6 review codes been sent out?
Reportedly yes, from late October 2026, according to NateTheHate. Rockstar has not commented.
What did GTA V and RDR2 score?
GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 both have a 97 on Metacritic. GTA IV has a 98.
Is GTA 6 eligible for Game of the Year 2026?
Yes. The Game Awards’ eligibility window runs until November 20, 2026 at 9pm PT, and GTA 6 launches on November 19.
Keep reading on HUDWire
Reports and history checked on November 2, 2026. Times converted by HUDWire. Graphic: HUDWire.
Sources
- Insider Gaming: Grand Theft Auto 6 review embargo date details
- GameWatcher: GTA 6 review embargo reportedly set for November 18
- GTA BOOM: GTA 6 review codes reportedly going out
- PlayStation Universe: GTA V review embargo revealed (2013)
- Forbes: Red Dead Redemption 2 review embargo lifts tomorrow (2018)
- Destructoid: GTA 6 teams with the Miami Heat for A Night in Vice City