GTA 6 Reviews: Embargo Date, Time and Review Scores
When do GTA 6 reviews come out? The embargo reportedly lifts November 18, the day before launch. The time, what Take-Two said, and how to avoid spoilers.
GTA 6 reviews are expected on Wednesday, November 18, the day before the game unlocks. That date comes from insiders and reports, not from Rockstar, which hasn't announced a review embargo. Here's when reviews should land, what time to look, and how to avoid spoilers once review copies are out there.
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
| What's been reported | Status | |
|---|---|---|
| Review embargo date | November 18, 2026 | Reported |
| Time | Around 6am to 7am ET / 12pm to 1pm CET | Rumor |
| Some outlets | May have to wait until November 19 | Rumor |
| Review copies sent | Late October | Reported |
| Confirmed by Rockstar? | No | — |
Where the date comes from
On October 26, insider NateTheHate posted that Rockstar had begun sending out review code and that the embargo is November 18. Insider Gaming said the same day that it could independently verify the date, and that review copies went out at the end of October, giving critics roughly three to four weeks with the game. Several other outlets have repeated it since.
It would follow Rockstar's usual pattern: reviews for both GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 went live the day before launch.
What time?
A forum post from October 23 claimed scores go live between 6am and 7am ET (12pm to 1pm in Central Europe, 11am to 12pm in the UK) on November 18. The same leak said some sites and YouTube channels may be held until launch day, November 19. Nobody has confirmed the time, so treat it as a guide.
If the date is right, you'll have reviews about a day before you can play. Check our release time guide for when GTA 6 unlocks where you are.
What Take-Two has said about review scores
Take-Two hasn't announced the embargo, but its CEO Strauss Zelnick has talked about reviews:
- They still matter. Asked in May whether critical reception is important for GTA 6, Zelnick said "of course", adding that Rockstar's scores are "typically in the mid-90s, sometimes high 90s".
- Expect some negative takes. "Rockstar are going to get, from the gates, some dissenting voices," he said, because social media is "so noisy".
- No victory laps. In August, he said Take-Two "never claim victory before it occurs", but that he believes GTA 6 will exceed expectations.
Before reviews, the only press coverage has been previews. Rockstar reportedly held a hands-off preview event in July, with impressions published in late August.
How to avoid GTA 6 spoilers
With review copies out in the wild, leaks are a real risk:
- Review copies are reportedly watermarked with each reviewer's name, so Rockstar can trace leaks back. That should keep big outlets careful, but it won't stop everything.
- Mute keywords on X, TikTok and Reddit: "GTA 6 ending", "GTA 6 spoilers", and character names like Jason, Lucia and Cal.
- Stick to scored reviews on November 18. Professional reviews avoid story spoilers. Leaked clips and "full story" videos don't.
Where to see the scores
When the embargo lifts, review aggregators like Metacritic and OpenCritic will collect the scores. We'll add the average and the key verdicts to this page on November 18.
Until then, see our GTA 6 launch guide for everything else you need before launch.
Sources
Based on 13 videos and articles. Here are the main ones, with credit to their creators.
- ArticleGTA 6 review embargo reportedly lifts November 18th, but some outlets may wait until launchegamers.io
- ArticleGTA 6 embargo: reviews on Nov. 18 at noon?kami-labs.fr
- ArticleGTA 6 Review Codes Reportedly Going Out Now, Embargo Claimed for November 18gtaboom.com
- ArticleGrand Theft Auto 6 Review Embargo Date Detailsinsider-gaming.com
- VideoGTA 6 Reviews Are Coming a Day Before Launch? Embargo Leak ExplainedCytorial
Show all 13 sources +Show fewer −
- ArticleGTA 6 reviews reportedly set for November 18 as review copies reach mediaaltchar.com
- VideoGTA 6 Early Review Copies Are Out?InkTV
- VideoSome GTA 6 Reviews Are Held Until Launch DayGTA 6 BUZZ
- ArticleGTA 6 Review Copies Are Reportedly Watermarked to Stop Leaks Before Launchbeebom.com
- ArticleTake-Two: GTA 6 review scores are importantthegamebusiness.com
- ArticleTake-Two CEO Says GTA 6 Review Scores Still Matterinsider-gaming.com
- ArticleStrauss Zelnick Believes GTA 6 Will Exceed Expectations, But Take-Two Never Claims Victory Beforehandgameranx.com
- ArticleReport: GTA 6 Preview Event Was Hands-Off and Embargo Lifting in Time for Netflix Premieremp1st.com
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