There is no doubt that GTA 6 is one of the most-awaited titles of 2026 and as the year ends soon, gamers across the world are waiting eagerly. Earlier, the game was expected to launch in May next year but the release was then delayed to November. If one thing that hasn’t changed, it is the hype around Rockstar’s next title. Perhaps this is why it already has won four awards, before even launching.
This places GTA VI in an extremely exclusive club, previously occupied by the likes of Elden Ring. The win is particularly striking given the game’s long development cycle and multiple delays, proving that hype around GTA VI has not only survived but grown stronger with time.
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At The Game Awards 2025 ceremony held on December 11 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, GTA 6 won the Most Anticipated Game award for the second consecutive year. With this win, it becomes only the second game in the event’s history to achieve the feat, alongside Elden Ring, which won in 2020 and 2021 before its eventual release. GTA VI beat out some heavy hitters this year, including The Witcher 4 from CD Projekt Red, Marvel’s Wolverine, Resident Evil Requiem, and 007 First Light.
These aren’t the only two awards that the game has won. Last month, GTA 6 had also won big at the Golden Joystick Awards. The game was awarded the best game trailer and the most wanted game titles. This means that the game already has won 4 awards before even launching.
The awards arrive despite Rockstar delaying the game twice in 2025. Originally slated for fall 2025, the release window first shifted to May 26, 2026, before being pushed again to November 19, 2026. In total, the delays have extended the wait by roughly a year, but fan anticipation appears unaffected.
GTA VI will feature a dual protagonist story following Jason and Lucia, set in a modern reimagining of Vice City within the fictional state of Leonida. This marks the franchise’s return to its Florida inspired setting after more than a decade. So far, Rockstar has released two cinematic trailers, but fans are still waiting for a third trailer and, more importantly, the first proper gameplay reveal.
With a development cycle now stretching beyond 11 years, GTA 6 has already surpassed Red Dead Redemption 2’s lengthy eight year production. Elden Ring, the only other game to win Most Anticipated Game twice, went on to become the most awarded Game of the Year title in history. We are yet to see it GTA 6 can follow a similar path.
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