Things are getting serious: GTA 6 has made its first television appearance. On October 20, a slightly altered version of last week's launch trailer aired on TV in the USA. And yes, the shower scenes got the axe.
Where Did the First GTA 6 TV Spot Air?
The occasion was the start of the new NBA season. Viewers saw the commercial during the New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers game, among others. Further reports mention it airing during the Pistons vs. Celtics and Thunder vs. Spurs games. According to a post on X, the spot aired on NBC Sports.
What Differentiates the TV Spot from the Launch Trailer?
Essentially, it's the same trailer as the Rockstar launch trailer that was released a week ago. However, fans have spotted a few changes:
- Of the three shower scenes, only the first one remains.
- As a result, other shots are a few frames longer.
- The airplane scene is slightly longer.
- The scene with Jason and Lucia also lasts a few frames longer.
- The Xbox logo is missing. According to the X account @GTAVI_Countdown, this is “due to the deal with PlayStation.” This is an unconfirmed claim by the account.
The spot does not reveal any new plot elements or a new game world. It's more about a few additional frames for frame counters. Rockstar has not yet commented on the changes.
Why Are the Shower Scenes Missing from Television?
Rockstar has not commented on this. Kotaku simply suspects that the scenes were too revealing for broadcast television. Weapons, explosions, and violence are apparently not an issue, but bare legs in the shower are.
From our perspective, this is no surprise. TV commercials target a broad audience, and broadcasters are traditionally more cautious than a YouTube trailer. What's more interesting is that any shower scene at all remained. Kotaku also expects the same spot to air during the Miami Heat game.
When Is GTA 6 Releasing and For Which Platforms?
The release date is November 19, 2026, for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. For PC, GamePro mentions 2027, while IGN reports a rumor for early next year. Additionally, GTA 6 is eligible for the Game Awards 2026. Our report on the over 6 million digital pre-orders according to Sensor Tower also demonstrates how well the hype is already building. And what awaits you in the game can be found in our article on the explorable interiors in Vice City.
Kotaku quotes a reaction from the community: One viewer wrote that seeing the commercial on TV during a big game made GTA 6 feel real now. Another reportedly only realized upon seeing the date and spot on their living room TV that only a few weeks remained until release.
Source: Kotaku
Is the TV spot enough of a preview for you, or would you rather wait for the release? Let us know in the comments!
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