Rockstar Gives Terminally Ill Fan Early GTA 6 Access
- Key Takeaways:
- Rockstar Games arranged an early play session of GTA 6 for a terminally ill fan after a LinkedIn plea from Ubisoft Toronto developer Anthony Armstrong.
- Take-Two Interactive’s CEO contacted Armstrong and Rockstar to help facilitate access; an NDA and studio visit were discussed.
- The gesture came while GTA 6 remains scheduled for a Nov. 19, 2026 release after a delay announced by Take-Two.
What happened
A LinkedIn post from Anthony Armstrong, a developer at Ubisoft Toronto, asked colleagues and contacts at Rockstar Games for help giving a family member — a long-time GTA fan — the chance to play Grand Theft Auto VI before its public release.
Armstrong wrote that the family member had been given “6-12 months to live” and could not be sure they would see GTA 6’s launch. The post requested an exclusive playtest or a studio visit, acknowledging the need for secrecy and NDAs.
How Rockstar and Take-Two responded
Armstrong later posted updates saying the CEO of Take-Two Interactive reached out and that Rockstar would be discussing the request. In a final message he said: “We spoke to them today and got great news. That's all I can really say, but thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
The public-facing post has since been deleted, but Armstrong’s updates indicate direct coordination between Take-Two, Rockstar, and the family to arrange early access under controlled conditions.
Embedded video
Below is the related YouTube embed that was included in the original reporting:
Why it matters
The gesture highlights how publishers and developers sometimes accommodate extraordinary personal requests while protecting confidential development details. Rockstar’s involvement shows a human side to a major studio known for tight secrecy around flagship releases.
Context: GTA 6 release schedule
Take-Two published a financial update last November confirming GTA 6 was delayed from May 26, 2026, to Nov. 19, 2026. The company said the extra time would allow Rockstar to finish the game with “the high level of polish players expect and deserve.”
What to watch next
There are no official public details about the play session itself, out of respect for privacy and development confidentiality. Expect only limited, studio-controlled interactions in situations like this — and official GTA 6 news will continue to come from Rockstar and Take-Two.
