Quick answer (updated October 27, 2026): Rockstar has started sending GTA 6 review codes to media, and the review embargo is November 18, 2026, one day before the November 19 launch. Both points are reported, not announced by Rockstar: insider NateTheHate posted them on October 26 and Insider Gaming says it independently verified them. A separate leak puts Metacritic scores live at about 6:00–7:00 AM ET (12:00–1:00 PM CET) on November 18, with some outlets and YouTubers held until launch. The catch: preload opens November 12, six days before reviews. On PS5, starting the preload can cost you the right to cancel a digital pre-order.
There are no GTA 6 reviews and no Metacritic score yet. What changed this week is that the timeline now has dates on it. Below we split what Rockstar has confirmed from what is only reported, give the reported embargo time in your time zone, and explain why the order of preload, reviews and launch matters if you plan to read the scores before you commit $79.99 or $99.99.
Are GTA 6 review codes out?
Reportedly, yes, since October 26. Insider NateTheHate, who has a long track record on Rockstar news, posted on X:
"Rockstar Games have begun to distribute review code of Grand Theft Auto 6 to media outlets. Review embargo is November 18th." — NateTheHate (@NateTheHate2), October 26, 2026
Insider Gaming followed the same day, saying it "can also independently verify these reports." Notebookcheck notes that this gives critics just over three weeks with the game before they can publish.
Rockstar and Take-Two have not confirmed either point. As of October 27, the official GTA VI page lists only the launch: November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with the "Plays Best On PlayStation 5" tag. Publishers almost never announce review embargoes publicly, so the lack of an official post means little either way. Still, treat November 18 as very likely, not certain.
In the 387-comment r/GTA6 thread on the news, much of the reaction was jokes about which outlet would hand out a "6/10, too much crime". One player made a more practical point: the delays cost nobody anything and should mean a more finished game on day one.
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
Reportedly November 18, 2026, the day before launch. This is how the story developed:
| Date | What happened | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 2026 | Insider Gaming reports the embargo will lift before launch | Reported |
| Oct 23, 2026 | ResetEra leaker BlackBate names Nov 18 and a time window | Reported |
| Oct 26, 2026 | NateTheHate: review codes going out, embargo Nov 18 | Reported (IG says verified) |
| Nov 12, 2026 | Digital preload opens; boxed code-in-a-box copies available | Confirmed by Rockstar |
| Nov 18, 2026 | Reviews and Metacritic scores expected | Reported |
| Nov 19, 2026 | GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S | Confirmed by Rockstar |
A day-before embargo is normal for Rockstar. GTA V reviews went live the day before its September 17, 2013 launch, and Red Dead Redemption 2 reviews went live on October 25, 2018, the day before release. The reporting describes Rockstar repeating its usual playbook.
What time does the GTA 6 review embargo lift?
The reported time is around 6:00–7:00 AM Eastern on November 18. As Notebookcheck summarised, BlackBate's October 23 post said Metacritic scores should appear at "around 12:01-1:01 PM CET/6-7 AM EST". Rockstar has not published a time. Converted, that window is:
| Region | Reported embargo window |
|---|---|
| US West (PT) | Nov 18, 3:00–4:00 AM |
| US East (ET) | Nov 18, 6:00–7:00 AM |
| UK (GMT) | Nov 18, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM |
| Central Europe (CET) | Nov 18, 12:00–1:00 PM |
| India (IST) | Nov 18, 4:30–5:30 PM |
| Japan (JST) | Nov 18, 8:00–9:00 PM |
| Sydney (AEDT) | Nov 18, 10:00–11:00 PM |
| New Zealand (NZDT) | Nov 19, 12:00–1:00 AM |
The leak has a second part: some sites and YouTube channels may have to wait until 12:01 AM ET on November 19 (6:01 AM CET). Notebookcheck's guess is that Rockstar wants written reviews to set the critical consensus first, with video reviews, which can show story footage, following at launch. The upshot is that the scored written reviews come first, and video reviews and full gameplay breakdowns may only appear on launch day.
These times assume US daylight saving has ended (it ends November 1), so ET is UTC−5 and CET is UTC+1. If Rockstar or a major outlet publishes an official embargo time, we will update this table.
Why does preload starting before reviews matter?
Preload opens on November 12, six days before reviews. For most players that only means a faster start on launch day. If you want to read the scores before deciding whether to keep your pre-order, it can cost you your refund.
- PlayStation 5: under PlayStation Store's cancellation policy, a digital pre-order can be cancelled before release only if the game has not started downloading, and that explicitly includes pre-loading. If Auto-Downloads is switched on, on November 12 your console may quietly use up your cancellation right six days before any review exists. To keep the option, turn off automatic downloads for pre-orders before November 12 and preload manually after you have read the reviews on November 18.
- Xbox Series X/S: Microsoft lets you cancel a pre-order from your account's order history up to release, and a pre-order cancelled after billing but before release is refunded. Card payments can be charged up to 10 days before launch. Preloading does not lock you in the way it does on PS5.
- Boxed copies: the physical GTA 6 is a download code in a box, not a disc, and it goes on sale November 12. Once the box is in your hands, cancelling depends on your retailer's return policy, not the console store's.
If you are certain you're buying, preload on November 12 and ignore all of this. If the scores will decide whether you play, set up the PS5 download settings before the 12th. Our GTA 6 pre-order cancellation guide walks through each platform step by step.
What Metacritic score will GTA 6 get?
There is no score yet. Any "GTA 6 Metascore" you see before November 18 is fake or a placeholder. The bar it has to clear is very high. Here are Metacritic scores for the main series, using the platform with the most reviews for each game, as tabulated by Insider Gaming:
| Game | Metascore | Critic reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360) | 98 | 86 |
| Grand Theft Auto III (PS2) | 97 | 56 |
| Grand Theft Auto V (PS4) | 97 | 66 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS2) | 95 | 62 |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) | 95 | 80 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4) | 97 | — |
GTA IV's 98 is the series record. Every mainline console GTA since GTA III (III, Vice City, San Andreas, IV and V) has scored 95 or higher, so anything under 95 would count as a surprise. Rockstar North's Rob Nelson has also told IGN that the game's new Criminal Profile system is "different than the honor system in Red Dead Redemption 2". It is the kind of new mechanic reviewers will assess for the first time, and we cover it in our Criminal Profile explainer.
How do you avoid GTA 6 spoilers before launch?
With codes in circulation for three weeks, leaks are likely. Notebookcheck has also reported that a content creator known for posting release-date spoilers may have received a code. The review embargo is only one day before launch, but story footage can show up earlier. To protect the story:
- Mute keywords on X/Twitter and TikTok ("GTA 6 ending", "GTA 6 spoilers", "Jason Lucia ending", "GTA VI leak").
- Read written reviews, not videos, on November 18. If the reported embargo split is right, written reviews come first and video reviews with footage follow at launch.
- Only read the score and verdict section. Most big outlets put spoiler-free verdicts at the top.
- Be wary of "GTA 6 gameplay" uploads on YouTube before November 18. They are either leaks or reposts.
Confirmed vs. reported: what's actually known?
Confirmed by Rockstar:
- GTA 6 launches November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S (no PC date has been announced; see our PC release status page).
- Preload opens November 12, 2026, and boxed code-in-a-box copies go on sale the same day.
- Standard Edition $79.99 / Ultimate Edition $99.99 (US). Neither edition includes early access, as covered in our early access breakdown.
Reported (insiders and outlets, not confirmed by Rockstar):
- Review codes went out to media starting October 26 (NateTheHate; Insider Gaming says it independently verified this).
- Review embargo on November 18 (NateTheHate, Insider Gaming, BlackBate).
- Scores around 6–7 AM ET / 12–1 PM CET on November 18, with some outlets and YouTubers held until launch (BlackBate via ResetEra).
Not known: the official embargo time, the exact time GTA 6 unlocks on November 19 (Rockstar has only given the preload time; see our unlock countdown), and any score.
Get set up in GTA Online while you wait for GTA 6
Reviews won't change what you can do in the next three weeks: start launch day already set up. There is no GTA 6 content for sale, and there won't be before November 19. The useful place to spend those weeks is GTA Online (GTA 5), where your cash, rank and garage count today.
Don't want to spend launch week grinding starter money? Sort your GTA Online account now, so your free time on November 19 goes to Vice City instead of farming cash.
- GTA 5 Money — fast & safe — top up your GTA$ balance securely so you're not starting from zero.
- GTA 5 Account Boost — levels, RP and unlocks handled for you.
- GTA 5 Modded Cars — rare rides delivered to your garage.
- All GTA services — the full GTA Online menu.
To be clear, these are GTA Online (GTA 5) services. There is no GTA 6 service, and anyone claiming to sell GTA 6 content or early access before launch is running a scam.
FAQ
Are GTA 6 reviews out yet? No. As of October 27, 2026, no GTA 6 reviews have been published and there is no Metacritic score. Review codes have reportedly gone out to media, and the embargo is reportedly November 18.
When is the GTA 6 review embargo? It is reported as November 18, 2026, the day before the November 19 launch. NateTheHate posted the date on October 26, and Insider Gaming says it independently verified it. Rockstar has not confirmed it.
What time do GTA 6 reviews go live? A leak from ResetEra user BlackBate puts Metacritic scores at about 6:00–7:00 AM ET (3:00–4:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM GMT, 12:00 PM CET) on November 18. Some sites and YouTube channels may have to wait until 12:01 AM ET on November 19. Rockstar has not published a time.
Should I preload GTA 6 before the reviews come out? Only if you're sure you're keeping it. On PS5, a digital pre-order can't be cancelled once the game has started downloading, and that includes preloading, which begins November 12. Turn off automatic pre-order downloads if you want to read reviews first. Xbox pre-orders can be cancelled up to release.
What's the highest-rated GTA on Metacritic? Grand Theft Auto IV, with 98 from 86 critic reviews on Xbox 360. GTA III and GTA V both have 97, as does Red Dead Redemption 2.
When does GTA 6 release? Grand Theft Auto VI launches November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with preload from November 12. Standard is $79.99 and Ultimate is $99.99 in the US.
