Rockstar Games' strategy for handling reviews of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI could significantly impact the Game of the Year race at The Game Awards. New reports suggest that Rockstar may eschew traditional review code distribution in favor of controlled review events, a practice that was more common in the late 2000s.
This approach deviates from how Rockstar handled previous titles, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, and is an unusual move in the current gaming industry. The reported strategy is likely driven by an intense effort to prevent leaks of Grand Theft Auto VI, mirroring the game's overall release plan which aims for maximum security with no physical editions distributed and digital copies activated only on the release date of November 19.
Impact on Award Nominations
The timing of Grand Theft Auto VI's release, just before The Game Awards' eligibility cutoff, positions it as a strong contender for Game of the Year 2026. However, the typical nomination process for the awards occurs in early November, before the game's release. If Rockstar proceeds with review events, it is probable that very few, if any, members of the awards jury will have had the opportunity to play the game in time to include it in their nominations.
This situation is analogous to instances where late-breaking, critically acclaimed games did not register with enough jury voters before the nomination deadline. For example, Arc Raiders and Dispatch, released in late October and early November last year, received limited nominations despite their impact. The difference with Grand Theft Auto VI is its status as a universally anticipated title, but the outcome for nominations could be similar if jury members are not able to experience it before the cutoff.
Potential Scenarios for The Game Awards
This could lead to an awkward scenario where Grand Theft Auto VI is underrepresented in the nominations, only to become the clear favorite in the winners' vote after its release. The organizers of The Game Awards could potentially shift their voting dates to accommodate the late release, though this might create a tight turnaround before the awards ceremony itself on December 10. Alternatively, the awards ceremony could appear out of step with one of the most significant cultural events in gaming history if it fails to adequately recognize Grand Theft Auto VI due to its release window and Rockstar's review policy.