GTA 6 Reviews: When the Review Embargo Lifts and What to Expect
Review copies of GTA 6 went out at the end of October and reviews are reported to go live on November 18, the day before launch. Here is what is confirmed, what is only reported, what time scores should appear and how to read the first wave of reviews.
GTA 6 is two weeks away and the biggest question left before launch is simple: is it any good? The first real answers will come from critics, and according to multiple reports they have already been playing it for days.
This guide covers when GTA 6 reviews are expected to go live, what time Metacritic and OpenCritic scores should appear, which parts of the reports are solid and which are not, and what the reviews will and will not be able to tell you.
The short answer
- Reported review embargo: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, one day before the November 19 launch
- Status: reported, not confirmed. Leaker NateTheHate shared the date and Insider Gaming says it verified it independently. Rockstar and Take-Two have not commented
- Review copies: reportedly sent to media at the end of October 2026, which gives critics roughly three weeks with the game
- Reported time: a less established leak says scores land between 12:01 and 1:01 PM CET on November 18, which is 6:01 to 7:01 AM ET
- Some outlets and YouTube channels may have to wait until launch itself, according to the same leak
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
On October 26, 2026, Insider Gaming reported that Rockstar had begun distributing review code and that the review embargo lifts on November 18. The date first came from NateTheHate, a leaker with a strong record on Rockstar news, and Insider Gaming says it confirmed the date with its own sources.
A day-before-launch embargo would match Rockstar's last two games. Reviews of GTA V went live on September 16, 2013, a day before its September 17 release, and reviews of Red Dead Redemption 2 went live on October 25, 2018, a day before it launched on October 26. Rockstar tends to give critics plenty of time with the game, then lift the embargo late so the conversation runs straight into launch.
Until Rockstar says otherwise, treat November 18 as very likely but not guaranteed. Embargoes can move, and publishers rarely announce them publicly.
What time do GTA 6 reviews go live?
The time is shakier than the date. On October 23, a ResetEra user called BlackBate posted that scores are set to appear in a one-hour window starting at 12:01 PM Central European Time on November 18. Notebookcheck and several other outlets picked it up, but the poster is not a well-known source, so read the times below as a best guess.
| Time zone | Scores go live (reported) | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific (PT) | 3:01 to 4:01 AM | November 18 |
| Eastern (ET) | 6:01 to 7:01 AM | November 18 |
| UK (GMT) | 11:01 AM to 12:01 PM | November 18 |
| Central Europe (CET) | 12:01 to 1:01 PM | November 18 |
| India (IST) | 4:31 to 5:31 PM | November 18 |
| Sydney (AEDT) | 10:01 to 11:01 PM | November 18 |
Why some reviews may arrive later
The same leak says some sites and YouTube channels will not be allowed to publish until 12:01 AM ET on November 19, when the game unlocks in the US. Split embargoes like this are common for huge launches. A typical reason is that some outlets get code later or play a different build, so publishers let them post once the game is out.
In practice it means the review scores you see on the morning of November 18 will not be the full picture. Expect a second wave of reviews, plus video reviews and impressions, through launch day and the weekend after.
What the reviews will not tell you
- Online multiplayer. GTA 6 launches as a single-player game and Rockstar has not said when multiplayer arrives, so reviews will cover the story only
- Day-one patch performance. Critics usually play a build before the final patch. Rockstar has confirmed 30fps on PS5 and Xbox for now, and reviews will say how stable that is, but patches can change it
- Every console. Reviewers often play on one machine, usually a PS5 or PS5 Pro. Look for outlets that say which console they used, especially if you play on Xbox Series S
- Spoilers. Most outlets keep story reviews spoiler-free, but comments, thumbnails and social posts often do not. See our tips on avoiding GTA 6 spoilers
How to read GTA 6's Metacritic score
GTA V scored 97 on Metacritic for PS3 and Xbox 360, and Red Dead Redemption 2 scored 97 on PS4. Expectations for GTA 6 are about as high as they get, so a score in the low 90s would still be a great result, even if it reads like a disappointment online.
Early averages also move. The first scores to appear tend to come from the biggest outlets, and the average usually settles a few points either way over the following days as more reviews arrive. For a better read than a single number, open three or four reviews from outlets you trust and look at what they agree on.
Where to follow GTA 6 reviews
We will round up the first GTA 6 reviews in our daily GTA 6 news as soon as the embargo lifts, with the Metacritic and OpenCritic averages and the main points critics agree on. If you would rather watch, we cover launch week live on the GTA6.channel YouTube channel.
FAQ
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
Reports say the GTA 6 review embargo lifts on November 18, 2026, one day before launch. Rockstar has not confirmed the date.
What time do GTA 6 reviews go live?
An unconfirmed leak says scores appear between 12:01 and 1:01 PM CET on November 18, which is 6:01 to 7:01 AM ET. Some outlets may have to wait until 12:01 AM ET on November 19.
Have critics already got GTA 6?
Yes, according to Insider Gaming and NateTheHate, who reported that Rockstar began sending review code at the end of October 2026.
Will GTA 6 reviews cover GTA Online?
No. GTA 6 launches as a single-player game, so reviews will cover the story mode only.