Sketchy GTA 6 reviews posted 9 months ahead of release date, despite Rockstar Games' leak prevention

Barring more delays, the GTA 6 release date will finally arrive on November 19, 2026. However, the HowLongToBeat site is already tracking player activity for the Rockstar Games title. At first, only one gamer had access, recording a 73 percent rating for the game. Since then, more players have joined, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the numbers.

Who is the mysterious first GTA 6 player?

The game’s subreddit noticed that one “lucky person” was exploring the revamped Vice City. Immediately, speculation began about who could have obtained early access. One popular guess was a terminally ill fan who reportedly previewed the game at Rockstar offices.

A Ubisoft developer made a request on LinkedIn for his sick family member to get a glimpse at the title. A representative from Take-Two Interactive responded, potentially arranging a visit. Nevertheless, given the studio’s tight control on GTA 6 leaks, it seems unlikely that the playtest would register on HowLongToBeat.

Early dev builds have escaped before, including an infamous September 2022 hack. Gamers saw raw footage and references to major characters like Jason and Lucia. The company’s condemnation was swift, and since then, it has only become more difficult to learn anything about the project. Most recently, it fired more than 30 unionizing employees for allegedly discussing the game on Discord.

Another rumor surfaced that Rockstar may not ship physical versions of the game until after its release date. The move would further reduce the risk of GTA 6 leaks while denying reviewers a copy in advance.

GTA 6 ratings likely aren't legitimate

All of the evidence suggests that the HowLongToBeat statistics are fabricated. The resource is community-driven, though it can connect to marketplaces like Steam. While the first player has an extensive track record, it’s possible to submit data without admin approval.

Now, more gamers are sharing their GTA 6 reviews, ratings, and playtimes. Hopefully, the site will weed out any false reports before causing more panic.