Rockstar May Have Granted a Terminally Ill Fan Early Access to Grand Theft Auto 6
In a deeply emotional story circulating online, Rockstar Games appears to have offered early access to Grand Theft Auto 6 to a fan who may not live long enough to see the game’s official release, according to multiple reports based on social media posts shared earlier this week. While Rockstar hasn’t publicly confirmed the gesture, the narrative has resonated across the gaming community.
A Fan’s Wish to Play Before It’s Too Late
The story began with a LinkedIn post from Anthony Armstrong, a developer at Ubisoft Toronto, who shared that a family member — a lifelong GTA fan — has been fighting cancer and was recently given only six to 12 months to live. Because GTA 6 is scheduled to release on November 19, 2026, Armstrong appealed to his Rockstar contacts to see whether a private playtest might be arranged so the fan could experience the highly anticipated game before passing.
Armstrong emphasized his understanding of the development team’s secrecy around GTA 6 and offered to sign any necessary non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) required to protect early content. After the original LinkedIn post began circulating online, the developer later updated it saying that “great news” had come from discussions with Take-Two Interactive’s leadership, Rockstar’s parent company.
Rockstar Games accepted a terminally ill fan’s wish to play GTA 6 early after a family member publicly shared his story. pic.twitter.com/xIyBqMhRX7
— GTA 6 Countdown ⏳ (@GTAVI_Countdown) January 18, 2026
Although the LinkedIn message was later deleted — likely for confidentiality reasons — screenshots and comments shared online continue to fuel belief that Rockstar did respond positively and may have organized early access for the terminally ill fan.
Heartwarming Gesture — and Some Skepticism
If true, this wouldn’t be Rockstar’s first compassionate move: similar efforts were reported in the past when the studio allowed a terminally ill Red Dead Redemption 2 fan to play early. However, many observers stress that no official statement has come from Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive, meaning the situation isn’t fully verified at this time.
Online reactions reflect both admiration and caution. Some applaud what they see as a kind, human moment from a major game developer, while others remain skeptical, noting that the company’s silence and deletion of the original post make it difficult to confirm the facts.
What This Means for Fans
Regardless of whether Rockstar confirms the situation, the story highlights the emotional impact of long-awaited games like GTA 6. With years of anticipation and a projected release later this year, the game has become part of fans’ lives in meaningful ways — so much so that some would love the chance to play it even under extraordinary circumstances.
At present, Grand Theft Auto 6 is still expected to launch officially on November 19, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with early access stories like this serving as a reminder of the personal connection many players have with the franchise.