GTA 6 reviews are reported to go live on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, one day before launch. reported Rockstar has not confirmed the embargo, so treat the date as strong but unofficial. As of Nov 15, there are no reviews and no Metacritic score. confirmed (absence)
Where does the Nov 18 date come from?
| Source | Claim | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| NateTheHate (X, Oct 26, 2026) | Review codes are out, with an embargo on Nov 18 | rumour |
| Insider Gaming | Independently verified the date; codes went out at the end of October | reported |
| tbreak (Oct 27) | Relays both | reported |
| Rockstar | Has said nothing | — |
Two separate sources landing on the same date, one of them saying it checked independently, makes Nov 18 credible. But neither is Rockstar. Timing can still move.
What time does the GTA 6 review embargo lift?
Unknown. One claim, from a source called BlackBate and relayed by Gizbot, says 6–7 AM EST, which it gives as 12:01–1:01 PM CET. rumour If accurate, that would be about 11:00–12:00 UTC on Nov 18, or 11 AM to noon in London.
Note that this would land almost exactly when New Zealand players start playing: NZ unlocks at 11:00 UTC on Nov 18. See release time by country.
Did every outlet get a review code?
Reportedly not. tbreak says some outlets and YouTubers may have to wait until launch. YouTuber Shirrako may have a review code. rumour Expect a mix of full reviews on Nov 18 and “review in progress” pieces through launch week.
What will reviews tell us that Rockstar has not?
A lot of open questions should be answered once reviews land:
- Story length. Rockstar North’s Rob Nelson reportedly said his playthrough took about 80 hours, but outlets disagree on whether that includes side content. See how long to beat.
- Real-world performance: how stable the 30 fps target is, and console resolutions.
- How the new systems feel, such as the wanted and heat system and character switching.
- Radio: Edge reported 23 stations; Rockstar has revealed six. See radio stations.
How to avoid GTA 6 spoilers before launch
Nov 18 is the risky day. Reviews may land, New Zealand players will be streaming, and earlier leaks are still around:
- The CyberLeek leaks included about 25 minutes of spoiler-heavy footage, possibly from an older build, which Engadget warned about on Oct 8. Rockstar’s legal team has been removing clips. reported See the CyberLeek leaks.
- New Zealand unlocks about 18 hours before the US store.
- Mute keywords like “GTA 6 ending” and character names on social media.
- Read reviews that promise to be spoiler-free, and skip video thumbnails.
What we’re watching
- Whether Rockstar or any outlet confirms the embargo time.
- The Metacritic and OpenCritic scores once reviews land. We will add them here.
Back to the release hub, or get ready with the day-one checklist.