Grand Theft Auto 6 has long been seen as the likely frontrunner for Game of the Year in 2025. That expectation shifted when Rockstar Games pushed its launch to May 2026, making it the presumed favourite for the 2026 awards instead. However, after the latest delay, the game’s new release date may cause significant complications for next year’s Game Awards.
Release timing creates eligibility concerns
GTA 6 is now scheduled to launch on Thursday, 19 November 2026. The Game Awards usually takes place in early December and relies on a strict eligibility cutoff set in late November. Historically, this cutoff lands on the Friday of the third week of November, allowing jury members enough time to play eligible titles before nominations and voting begin. In 2023, for example, the cutoff date was Friday, 22 November.
If the usual pattern holds, the likely cutoff date for 2026 is Friday, 20 November. This places GTA 6’s release just one day before eligibility closes. While the game will technically qualify for the 2026 awards, the timing leaves very little room for proper consideration, creating an unusual and potentially messy situation for organisers and jury members.
Jury preparation may be hindered
Nominations for The Game Awards are typically announced in mid-November, with this year’s list set to be revealed on 17 November. This means the nomination process occurs in the first half of the month, while voting on the winners takes place after nominations are published, close to the eligibility cutoff date.
This structure assumes that jury members will receive early review copies of major releases expected during the first three weeks of November. Such access allows them to play, assess, and nominate these games promptly. This system generally works because most large releases arrive by early November, and the industry calendar winds down shortly after. Aside from occasional December exceptions, the last major launch in a typical year is often Call of Duty, which rarely competes for the top award outside genre-specific categories.
GTA 6, however, is a much larger and more influential release. With Rockstar’s reputation for development cycles that extend until the very last moment, early review copies are far from guaranteed. Without access to full review builds, jury members may only have limited preview experiences to rely on — and Rockstar is known for rarely hosting such events. Juries are unlikely to nominate a game of this scale based solely on preview impressions, no matter how anticipated it may be.
Organisers face pressure to adjust their schedule
This scenario leaves the organisers of The Game Awards with a dilemma. Excluding the year’s most significant release — and perhaps the most anticipated game of the decade — from competing for its top categories would appear illogical, even if the game technically qualifies. Yet without review access, the jury may be unable to evaluate it fairly.
Organisers may hope Rockstar distributes review copies earlier than usual. However, Rockstar’s size and influence mean it has little incentive to alter its development timeline to fit award schedules.
One possible solution would be for The Game Awards to shift its own timetable. Pushing the awards ceremony back by a week or two could give the jury the extra time needed to properly assess GTA 6. If the 2026 event is announced for a later date than usual — this year’s edition takes place on 11 December — it may be a sign that the schedule has been adjusted to accommodate the game’s release.
Of course, another option remains: GTA 6 could be delayed again, this time into 2027. As history shows, nothing about the game’s timeline is ever completely sure.
