Rockstar calls GTA VI gameplay leaks heartbreaking, keeps November 19
Rockstar said a week of leaked GTA VI gameplay clips was heartbreaking for its team, apologized for the wait and asked fans to hold on until November 19.
Published on Leonidle , after the event.
On August 26, 2026, Rockstar Games issued a public statement about the GTA VI gameplay clips that had been spreading online for about a week. Posted on its social media accounts, it called the leaks "heartbreaking for our team" (VGC) and kept the November 19 release date.
What Rockstar said
Much of the message was an apology. Rockstar said it was sorry that both finishing the game and sharing official details had taken so long, and described the game as "nearly there!" in the text quoted by Kotaku. It said leaked videos were not the way it meant players to see the game for the first time, and admitted that spoilers could now affect the experience it had planned.
The studio also pointed fans to the official look at the game it would show the next day, Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, which premiered on Netflix on August 27. It ended by asking players to "wait a bit longer to experience the game for themselves on November 19."
What it means for players
The launch plan did not move. GTA VI is still due on November 19, 2026; the launch FAQ and the timeline keep track of the key dates.
Leonidle does not describe, link or discuss leaked material. This post covers Rockstar's response only.
Background
Rockstar stayed quiet while the clips circulated, and Kotaku framed the statement as the end of a week of silence. Outlets cite different accounts for the post: VGC and Vice link to Rockstar's X account, while Kotaku cites Instagram.