Best Buy leak may open GTA 6 pre-orders May 18

Best Buy affiliate emails circulated this week suggesting physical pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI could open on Monday, May 18, setting off a new round of speculation around Rockstar Games’ release plans. Notebookcheck reported the emails referenced a “GTA 6 Pre Order (Physical Game)” campaign tied to May 18 through May 21, while other outlets citing the same material said the messages went to Best Buy affiliates rather than to the wider public. Take-Two Interactive shares closed at $242.44 on Friday, May 15, giving the publisher a market capitalization of about $44.9 billion, according to market data. Notebookcheck and other market-focused coverage linked the move to investor enthusiasm around the possibility that pre-orders would signal confidence in Grand Theft Auto VI’s November launch window. Rockstar Games has not announced pre-orders publicly. (notebookcheck.net) The company’s official position remains that Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, after a delay announced in November 2025. ### What exactly did the Best Buy leak appear to show? Vice, as summarized by Complex and Yahoo, reported that multiple Best Buy affiliates received promotional emails referencing a “GTA 6 Pre Order (Physical Game)” campaign scheduled for May 18 to May 21, 2026. (finance.yahoo.com) The material also mentioned a 5% online sale figure, though reports said it was unclear whether that referred to affiliate commission or a consumer-facing promotion. (rockstargames.com) May 18 matters because the leak pointed to a start date for physical pre-orders, not a confirmed release of broader marketing materials from Rockstar. Several reports said the four-day window may describe an affiliate campaign period rather than the full duration of pre-orders themselves. ### Has Rockstar or Take-Two confirmed any of this? Rockstar Games has confirmed only the release date. (complex.com) In a Newswire post published on November 6, 2025, the company said Grand Theft Auto VI would release on Thursday, November 19, 2026. Take-Two has not issued a public statement confirming a May 18 pre-order opening. (complex.com) The company said on April 23 that it will report fourth-quarter and fiscal-year 2026 results after the market closes on Thursday, May 21, followed by a 4:30 p.m. Eastern conference call. ### Why did investors react to a retailer email? Take-Two’s stock added nearly 10% over the past week, according to market data, as speculation around Grand Theft Auto VI intensified ahead of earnings. (rockstargames.com) Yahoo Finance said investors viewed a pre-order launch as a possible sign that Rockstar remained on track for the late-2026 release date. That interpretation came from market commentary, not from the company. (take2games.com) The roughly $2 billion figure comes from comparing Take-Two’s market value before and after the rally described in reports this week. Notebookcheck used that framing, and current quote pages show the company near $44.9 billion in market capitalization as of the May 15 close. ### Why are some insiders pushing back on the May 18 theory? (finance.yahoo.com) Tom Henderson said he does not expect pre-orders to open on Monday, according to coverage of Insider Gaming Weekly published on Sunday. TheGamer reported Henderson said he believes fans may not hear anything substantial until July at the earliest, even though he had previously said the Best Buy email itself appeared legitimate. (notebookcheck.net) That distinction has become central to the debate. A retailer or affiliate email can be real and still describe a plan that changes, a placeholder campaign, or a limited physical-retail step that does not amount to a full Rockstar marketing rollout. That is an inference from the mix of reports, not a statement made by Rockstar or Best Buy. ### What should readers watch next? (thegamer.com) Monday, May 18, is the next immediate test because that is the date named in the leaked Best Buy material cited across multiple reports. If physical pre-orders do open, the clearest confirmation would be listings or retailer notices from Best Buy or an announcement from Rockstar Games. Thursday, May 21, is the next scheduled corporate milestone. (complex.com) Take-Two is due to report fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter results that afternoon, and the company has already set a 4:30 p.m. Eastern conference call where analysts can press management on Grand Theft Auto VI timing and any pre-order activity. (take2games.com)