5 reasons why GTA 6 pre-order could start after Summer Game Fest 2025

Besides Grand Theft Auto 6 itself, fans are also eagerly waiting for GTA 6 pre-orders to begin. The upcoming title's developer, Rockstar Games, hasn't put forward a date yet, but given its nature, there can be a surprise announcement at any time between now and May 2026, which is when the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto sequel will come out.

Few may be wondering if GTA 6 pre-orders could start after Summer Game Fest, one of the biggest gaming industry events of the summer. While the possibilities don't seem to be too great, let's look at five reasons why something like that could happen.

Note - This article is subjective and only reflects the writer's opinions and analysis.

Here are 5 possible reasons why GTA 6 pre-orders could start after Summer Game Fest 2025

1) Get as much attention as possible

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As stated, Summer Game Fest is one of the biggest events of the gaming industry. So, anything that gets featured is bound to get a lot of attention. Now, its not like Grand Theft Auto 6 is in need of a platform, since it is possibly the most anticipated video game there has ever been.

Notably, its first trailer broke records, and GTA 6 trailer 2 also crossed 100 million views on YouTube in just a few days. That said, collaborating with a big event like Summer Game Fest for a pre-order announcement might prove to be even better for Rockstar Games.

2) GTA 6 trailer 3 at Summer Game Fest is very unlikely

One of the recently released GTA 6 screenshots (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar dropped GTA 6 trailer 2 and screenshots only a month ago, so despite Summer Game Fest being a major platform, a third trailer arriving so soon is very unlikely, especially considering the title's release schedule.

That said, a GTA 6 pre-order announcement after the event seems to be a lot more realistic scenario in comparison.

Check out: Will GTA 6 be at Summer Game Fest 2025? Possibilities explored

3) Capitalize on the hype

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There was already a lot of excitement and anticipation around Grand Theft Auto 6, but the visuals and story teasers in the second trailer appear to have increased that significantly. The screenshots showing off the different areas in the GTA 6 map have also contributed to that.

Therefore, Rockstar might choose to capitalize on the increased hype created over the last month by kicking off GTA 6 pre-orders now.

4) There is a concrete release date

GTA 6 has been delayed, but we have a concrete release date (Image via Rockstar Games)

Originally, Rockstar Games was targeting a Fall 2025 launch for Grand Theft Auto 6. This was announced by the developer's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, all the way back in May 2024, but there was never a proper date or even a month for that matter. However, we now have a concrete release date to look forward to, which is May 26, 2026.

This makes it more probable for GTA 6 pre-orders to potentially begin in the near future. And as discussed earlier, Summer Game Fest would be a neat platform to pair its announcement with.

5) Less than a year is left until the GTA 6 release date

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As mentioned previously, the GTA 6 release date is May 26, 2026. When Rockstar Games announced the delay, there was a little over a year left in its arrival, but it's less than a year now.

Summer Game Fest will be held in a few hours from the time of this writing, and while starting GTA 6 pre-orders after it can still be considered a bit early, the time left in the title's arrival at least doesn't make it seem unrealistic.

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About the author

Suyash is an Esports and Gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who specializes in Rockstar Games' GTA franchise. Suyash uses in-depth research and knowledge of his immense experience with the game series to ensure readers have access to the most reliable information. His insightful content pieces have raked in more than 5 million views in just a little over a year's time.

Suyash holds a B.Tech degree and ventured into the world of gaming at a young age through the Prince of Persia Sands of Time trilogy. However, upon encountering GTA Vice City’s 1980s aesthetic, music, and vintage cars, he became enamored with the game, leading him to explore the rest of the franchise.

Suyash prefers solo titles to multiplayer, especially ones with a well-crafted story and character arcs. He admires journalist Jason Schreier for the respect he commands in the industry and the reliability of his news pieces. To ensure the accuracy of his own pieces, he checks multiple reputable sources and insiders.

If he were to recommend a game to a skeptic, it would be Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series. When he’s not roaming the streets of Los Santos in GTA V, you can find him playing football, watching movies, or working out.

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Edited by Ritoban "Veloxi" Paul