The wait for Grand Theft Auto VI is about to get very expensive. A Best Buy email forwarded by multiple affiliates points to May 18 as the day GTA 6 pre-orders go live – and with Take-Two Interactive’s stock jumping by nearly $2 billion in response, the market is treating this one as the real deal.
The Best Buy Email That Set the Internet on Fire
The email was first reported by Insider Gaming, which confirmed its legitimacy after two separate Best Buy affiliates independently forwarded it. The message points firmly at May 18 as the pre-order launch date – which is tomorrow at time of writing.
The timing is hard to ignore. Take-Two has an earnings call scheduled for May 21, and opening pre-orders days beforehand is exactly the kind of move you make when you want the financial world paying attention. It would also give analysts something concrete to discuss on the call rather than responding to yet more questions about when GTA 6 marketing will actually kick off.
Take-Two’s Stock Reacts Immediately
Markets responded fast. Shortly after the reports went wide online, Take-Two Interactive shares climbed sharply, reportedly adding close to $2 billion to the company’s market capitalization. That kind of move on an unverified retail leak says a lot about how enormous the pent-up anticipation for this game really is. GTA 6 doesn’t need a confirmed date to move the needle – just a credible rumor is enough.
Will a New Trailer Drop Alongside Pre-Orders?
The obvious question is whether pre-orders opening will come with Trailer 3. Rockstar dropped Trailer 2 in April 2025, and the silence since has been considerable. Many fans are hoping the pre-order launch doubles as a marketing event with new footage.
However, veteran insider Tom Henderson has pushed back on that expectation, suggesting GTA 6 marketing is more likely to ramp up in July or August rather than this weekend. It is entirely possible pre-orders go live with minimal fanfare – just a landing page and a payment button, with the full campaign to follow later in the summer.
Either way, Grand Theft Auto VI remains officially confirmed for November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. A PC version has not been formally announced but is widely expected to follow, likely on Rockstar’s own launcher and potentially Steam at a later date.
