GTA 6's Best Buy pre-order leak has added $2 billion to publisher's valuation overnight

The ongoing hype for Grand Theft Auto VI is surging to new highs as Rockstar Games’ sixth mainline entry in the franchise is shaping up to be one of the biggest video game launches in history. Even the mere rumor that fans might be able to pre-order the game soon has already sent tremors through Wall Street.

On Thursday, May 14, 2026, Rockstar Games and GTA VI publisher Take-Two Interactive saw their shares jump roughly between 5% and 10% in a single day, adding about $2 billion to the company’s market value. The reason for this was a small blip, a leaked email, from Best Buy that gave insights into pre-order details for the physical edition of Grand Theft Auto VI.

Take-Two’s stock had been hovering between $216 and $230 earlier in the week. After the pre-order email leak became public, the stock price climbed to more than $240 per share. 

The email was sent to affiliate partners and included a brief promotional window for “GTA 6 Pre-Order (Physical Game)” running between May 18 and May 21, 2026, with a 5% commission for influencers who drove sales.

While this seemed too good to be true, multiple affiliate partners later shared screenshots online, and reports confirmed that the email was, in fact, real. With that said, Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are now expected to begin on May 18, 2026.

Take-Two investors may be celebrating, as the publisher’s Q4 2026 earnings call is scheduled for May 21, 2026, and some information is sure to be released about its largest title to date, building on the success of its predecessor. These developments also largely reassure the GTA fanbase that the game is on track for a November 19, 2026, launch, with no further delays in sight.

Expectations are at an all-time high for Grand Theft Auto VI. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick recently spoke with Bloomberg and discussed the game's hype. He said, “Being on the sidelines but pretty close to the front of the sidelines is very, very exciting. And terrifying. Because the expectations are so high.”

Still, Rockstar and Take-Two have yet to confirm the pre-order date or issue a public statement regarding the Best Buy email. Take-Two’s Q4 2026 earnings call is just a few days away, and fans hope Strauss Zelnick will share a clearer picture of what’s coming next for GTA VI’s promotional marketing and trailer drops.