Grand Theft Auto VI has long been seen as the inevitable frontrunner for Game of the Year. First, it was expected to dominate 2025. Then a delay pushed it into 2026. Now, with Rockstar moving the release date again this time to November 19, 2026 the situation has become unexpectedly complicated for The Game Awards.
In theory, GTA 6 remains eligible for next year’s show. In practice, the timing could make that nearly impossible.
One Day Makes All the Difference
The Game Awards uses an annual eligibility cutoff in late November, typically the Friday of the third week of the month. In 2023, it was November 22. If the same schedule holds, the likely cutoff for 2026 will be Friday, November 20.
GTA 6 launches on November 19 just one day earlier.
On paper, that keeps it eligible. But the timing leaves jury members with virtually no opportunity to play it before casting nomination ballots. That alone could derail the game’s chances.
A Jury With No Time to Evaluate
Nominations for The Game Awards are typically chosen in early November, long before the cutoff date. Those ballots are based on early access builds, preview versions and final code supplied to reviewers ahead of release. Major publishers understand the importance of this cycle, which is why most blockbuster games arrive by early November, giving critics enough time to evaluate them.
But Rockstar’s workflow is famously tight. Early copies are rare, preview events even rarer. With GTA 6 launching so close to the deadline, there’s no guarantee that reviewers will receive playable builds early enough to judge the full experience. And no critic wants to nominate a title of this magnitude based solely on marketing reels.
A Headache for The Game Awards
The scenario puts awards organizers in a difficult position. Excluding the most anticipated game of the decade would look absurd yet allowing it without proper evaluation would compromise the integrity of the voting process.
The only way around this dilemma might be moving the show back by one or two weeks, allowing the jury time to properly assess GTA 6. A delayed ceremony in December 2026 would speak volumes.
And then there’s the wildcard: given Rockstar’s track record, GTA 6 could suffer another delay, pushing it straight into 2027 and bypassing the issue entirely.
The Industry Holds Its Breath
For now, the situation remains unsettled. GTA 6 is technically eligible for the 2026 awards but the circumstances surrounding its release make its participation anything but straightforward. Should the timeline remain unchanged, The Game Awards may face its most complex eligibility challenge yet, all thanks to one of gaming’s biggest-ever launches.