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Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI, the first new entry in the franchise in 13 years, launches November 19 with nearly 5 million pre-orders worldwide. Workers across industries are already planning to take days off around the release, echoing the informal 'sick day' culture that surrounded Fallout 4's 2015 launch. Employers are bracing for a noticeable dip in productivity as employees prioritize gameplay over work.
Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, and multiple fans told The Wall Street Journal they're taking extended vacation time to play it immediately. Examples include a software engineer taking five days off before Thanksgiving, a medical-sales rep blocking out a full week, and a Brazilian civil servant cashing in ten vacation days.
Rockstar Games released a 26-minute gameplay preview of Grand Theft Auto VI, ahead of its November 19th launch, drawing nearly 10 million YouTube views in a day. The footage also aired on Netflix, where traffic was so heavy some viewers hit error messages, and Twitch reported bandwidth strain from fans reacting to the clip. Sensor Tower estimates the game already has roughly 4.6 million preorders.
Netflix's unusual decision to premiere an extended Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer drew such heavy traffic that both Netflix and Twitch experienced access and bandwidth problems on Thursday. Take-Two Interactive shares climbed in premarket trading following the reaction, with analysts describing player sentiment as largely positive. The game, set for a November 19 launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, has already generated an estimated $260 million in global preorders.
Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson told the New York Times he completed a playthrough of Grand Theft Auto VI, including the main story and some optional content, in about 80 hours. Rockstar also released an extended, nearly 27-minute look at the game following its Netflix debut, showcasing the fictional state of Leonida and protagonists Jason and Lucia. GTA VI launches November 19 for $80.
Rockstar co-studio head Rob Nelson told IGN that Grand Theft Auto VI will replace the series' simple hotwire button with varied theft methods tied to each vehicle's make and model. Some cars will require tools like key cloners, others will demand careful speed control to dodge GPS tracking, and an in-game app will help players identify what's needed and what a car is worth. Players can still carjack any driver directly, but stealing parked vehicles will be gated by story progress and acquired equipment.
Rockstar Games released a 26-minute extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI, streaming first on Netflix for six hours before hitting the Rockstar YouTube channel later the same day. The footage details the game's Florida-inspired setting of Leonida, introduces protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, and shows an early gameplay sequence involving a drug raid shootout.
Rockstar Games released an extended 27-minute look at Grand Theft Auto VI through Netflix rather than YouTube, blending cutscenes and gameplay footage into a cinematic narrative centered on protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos in Vice City. The footage mixes crime-heavy action sequences with quieter character moments, structured with film-like editing rather than a straightforward gameplay walkthrough.
Netflix will livestream the third GTA VI trailer today in partnership with Rockstar and Take-Two, giving subscribers first access before it hits YouTube and other platforms six hours later. The move comes right after hackers leaked gameplay and story details, first demanding physical game discs, then shifting to demanding cryptocurrency payments for further leaks. Rockstar called the leaks 'heartbreaking' but said it remains eager for fans to see the official extended look.
Rockstar Games and Netflix released an extended gameplay preview of Grand Theft Auto VI, showcasing improved graphics, dense environments, and cooperative gameplay between protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. The footage, captured on PS5, highlighted combined driving-and-shooting sequences, a split mission requiring stealth and combat, and glimpses of activities like basketball, boat driving, and parachuting.
Netflix has secured a temporary exclusive window to premiere 'Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look' at 3PM ET on August 27, reportedly for a significant sum. The trailer will remain Netflix-only for six hours before Rockstar posts it publicly on its YouTube channel at 9PM ET the same day, free for anyone to watch.
Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma told the BBC that rising hardware costs, partly fuelled by AI spending, mean the company must prioritise affordability for its next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix. She also announced that owners of roughly 1,000 physical disc titles will soon be able to unlock digital entitlements for those games, with rights transferring to new owners if discs are resold.