GTA 6 will be at this year's The Game Awards – but only just. As Eurogamer reports, Rockstar's mega-game meets the eligibility criteria by exactly one day.
Why Is GTA 6 Eligible for The Game Awards 2026?
According to the show's FAQ, games must be „commercially available up to and including Friday, November 20, 2026, 9 PM PT.” GTA 6 is set to release on November 19th, fitting in just barely. At first glance, this seems like an exception for Rockstar. However, industry observer Shinobi602 points out that the deadlines only shift by one or two days each year.
The show itself will take place on December 10, 2026. Eurogamer discloses that the magazine itself is part of The Game Awards jury.
Can GTA 6 Break the Record Set by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 currently holds the record with nine awards last year, including Game of the Year. Before that, Baldur’s Gate 3 led with six wins. Rockstar's last major project, Red Dead Redemption 2, scooped up four awards in 2018: Best Narrative, Best Audio Design, Best Score/Music, and Best Performance for Roger Clark as Arthur Morgan.
According to Eurogamer, the budget, scope, and expectations for GTA 6 are orders of magnitude higher than those of previous record holders. This increases the pressure on Rockstar.
What Does This Mean for Players?
For you, nothing changes for now: a release delay would take GTA 6 out of the running, but everything remains open regarding nominations and winners. The surrounding circumstances will also be interesting: Rockstar is simultaneously involved in an employment tribunal in Scotland, with a verdict not expected until November – more on that in our report on the tribunal against the IWGB union. Most recently, Rockstar also surprisingly released the launch trailer.
From our perspective, GTA 6 will be hard to beat in terms of technology, world, and music. Whether it also becomes Game of the Year depends on how well the hype holds up to the finished game.
Source: Eurogamer
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