One insider says copies are going out now. A ResetEra user named the same embargo date three days earlier.
The short version
Insider NateTheHate said at 4pm UK time on 26 October 2026 that Rockstar Games has begun sending GTA 6 review code to media outlets, with a review embargo of 18 November, the day before launch. He shared no evidence, and Rockstar has not commented on either claim.
Quick answer
Have GTA 6 review codes been sent out?
Insider NateTheHate said at 4pm UK time on 26 October 2026 that Rockstar Games has begun sending GTA 6 review code to media outlets, with a review embargo of 18 November, the day before launch. He shared no evidence, and Rockstar has not commented on either claim.
GTA 6 may already be on its way to critics. NateTheHate posted on X that Rockstar Games "have begun to distribute review code of Grand Theft Auto 6 to media outlets. Review embargo is November 18th."
An embargo is the moment outlets are allowed to publish. If this one holds, reviews go live a day before the game reaches PS5 and Xbox Series X and S on 19 November, the date on the Rockstar Newswire.
Who is reporting the GTA 6 review codes?
Only NateTheHate, for now. The only media in his post is a reaction GIF, and he had not added detail by 4.30pm UK time.
Big accounts such as iGrandTheftAuto and shinobi602 repeated it within minutes. Each one credits him, so there is still one source for codes going out today.
The date has a second voice. ResetEra user BlackBate named that same date on 23 October, Notebookcheck reported, and said codes were due the week of 26 October or early November. We cannot tell whether the two share a source.
Nate is an insider with a strong record, including on GTA 6's timing, but not infallible. In June he said the game would not miss November, Vice reported, and the date has held so far. On 15 October he said on ResetEra that review copies had not gone out yet but would before the end of October, RockstarINTEL reported.
But in May he admitted a miss after placing Nintendo's Star Fox reveal at the end of April, a few days off, and said he would stop giving exact dates. This time he gave one.
What is reported and what is confirmed?
Only the 19 November launch is confirmed, by Rockstar.
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Review code going out to media now | NateTheHate, 26 October | Reported, one source |
| Review embargo 18 November | NateTheHate 26 October, Insider Gaming 26 October (says independently verified), BlackBate 23 October | Reported by two sources, not confirmed by Rockstar |
| Reviews before launch | Insider Gaming, 14 October | Reported |
| Launch on 19 November | Rockstar Newswire | Announced by Rockstar |
| Rockstar comment on reviews | None | No statement |
When will GTA 6 reviews come out?
On 18 November, if the reports hold. Codes sent on 26 October would give reviewers about 23 days with the game, by our own count.
That fits Rockstar's habit. GTA 5 reviews ran on 16 September 2013 and Red Dead Redemption 2 reviews on 25 October 2018, each a day before launch, as PlayStation Universe and GameSpot reported.
It also cuts against a May claim from Brazilian journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe, relayed by Insider Gaming, that "Nobody is going to get the key to this game" and that critics would play at a supervised event instead.
Our earlier report on GTA 6 reviews before launch has the background, and the release date FAQ covers launch timing. If reviews appear on 18 November, Nate called it. Until then, the launch date is the only one Rockstar has published.
thegta6news.com is a fan news site and is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take Two Interactive.
Frequently asked questions
Have GTA 6 review codes been sent out?
Reportedly. Insider NateTheHate said on 26 October 2026 that Rockstar Games has begun sending review code to media outlets. He shared no evidence, and Rockstar has not commented.
When is the GTA 6 review embargo?
18 November 2026, according to NateTheHate and Insider Gaming, which says it independently verified the date. ResetEra user BlackBate named the same day on 23 October. Rockstar has not announced an embargo date, so it could still change.
Will YouTubers get GTA 6 review code?
No one has reported that YouTubers have code. NateTheHate's post mentions media outlets only, and some accounts repeating it added creators and IGN without a source.
When does GTA 6 come out?
On 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, according to the Rockstar Newswire.
Sources
- X: NateTheHate, Rockstar began distributing GTA 6 review code, embargo 18 November
- Insider Gaming: Grand Theft Auto 6 Review Embargo Date Details (Andrew Highton)
- Notebookcheck: GTA 6 review embargo time leaks (BlackBate / ResetEra, 18 November)
- 6 Insider: GTA 6 review embargo November 18 report
- RockstarINTEL: GTA 6 will be sent out very soon to reviewers, NateTheHate
- Insider Gaming: GTA 6 reviews will be released before launch
- Insider Gaming: GTA 6 review copies won't be sent claim (relays Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe)
- Vice: GTA 6 won't miss November release date according to NateTheHate
- My Nintendo News: NateTheHate won't give exact dates after Star Fox miss
- PlayStation Universe: GTA V review embargo revealed, 16 September 2013
- GameSpot: Red Dead Redemption 2 reviews have arrived, 25 October 2018
- Rockstar Newswire: GTA VI is now set to launch November 19, 2026
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