Rockstar Games Helps Terminally Ill Fan Play GTA 6 Before Release
Rockstar Games has quietly granted a terminally ill fan early access to Grand Theft Auto VI, months before its scheduled release in November 2026.
The story began with a LinkedIn post from Anthony Armstrong, a developer at Ubisoft Toronto. Armstrong shared that a close family member, a lifelong GTA fan, had been battling cancer for years and was recently given six to twelve months to live. With GTA 6 delayed to November 19, 2026, Armstrong feared his family member might never get the chance to play the game.
In the now-deleted post, Armstrong reached out to contacts at Rockstar Games and Rockstar Toronto, asking if an exclusive playtest could be arranged. He acknowledged the need for strict secrecy and said his family would be willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement. The request gained quite support across the industry.
Weeks later, Armstrong shared an update. The CEO of Take-Two Interactive, Strauss Zelnick, had personally reached out. Shortly after, Armstrong posted a final message saying only that they had spoken with Rockstar and received “great news,” thanking everyone who helped. No further details were shared, and the post was soon removed, likely due to confidentiality requirements.
While Rockstar has not issued a public statement, the updates strongly suggest the request was approved. The studio has done this before. In 2018, Rockstar allowed a terminally ill fan to play Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead of launch, setting a precedent for moments like this.
The timing adds weight to the gesture. Take Two confirmed last year that GTA 6 was delayed from May to November 2026 to allow extra development time and ensure the level of polish fans expect. For this family, that delay could have meant missing the experience entirely.
Armstrong later asked the public to respect his family’s privacy, noting that while the outcome was positive, the situation remains deeply personal.