The anticipation for the next installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise continues to grow, even as the release date is pushed to 2026. Gamers are eagerly consuming every detail that Rockstar Games reveals. Recently, Rockstar released the second trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, which has garnered an astounding 475 million views across various platforms, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
For context, the first trailer for GTA VI, which debuted in 2023, attracted a comparatively modest 93 million views during the same timeframe. It's worth noting that the initial trailer was exclusively available on YouTube. Rockstar claims that the latest trailer's overwhelming success marks it as the largest video launch of all time.
In the realm of film, the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer only managed 365 million views within 24 hours, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps achieved over 200 million views. The staggering response to the GTA VI trailer, nearly half a billion views, highlights the immense demand for this open-world game, which serves as a sequel to the highly successful Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013.
The excitement surrounding the trailer also extends to its featured soundtrack. The song “Hot Together” by The Pointer Sisters, written by Sharon Robinson, experienced a remarkable 182,000% surge in streams on Spotify following the trailer's release. This dramatic increase is no typo and reflects the strong connection between the GTA series and music, which has played a crucial role in its storytelling through in-game radio stations, missions, and cut scenes.
“Grand Theft Auto cuts through popular culture like almost nothing else,” stated Sulinna Ong, Spotify’s global head of editorial. “Music has been synonymous with the series since the very beginning, so it’s great to see fans both new and established connecting with an iconic track in this way.”
GTA VI is poised to be the biggest video game release on the calendar for the next year, with its release now scheduled for May 26, 2026, having initially been announced for 2025. Rockstar Games, a subsidiary of Strauss Zelnick’s Take-Two Interactive, has reportedly invested over $1 billion into the development of this highly anticipated title, which was confirmed to be in the works back in 2022.
For perspective, GTA V has generated nearly $10 billion in revenue since its launch over a decade ago, thanks to ongoing updates and the introduction of new missions. The upcoming GTA VI is set in Vice City, the franchise's fictional version of Miami, further enriching the game's expansive universe.
As fans await further details, the excitement surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI shows no signs of waning, with both gamers and music lovers eagerly anticipating the game's eventual release.
