GTA 6 Fandom in Uproar Over Fake Trailer 3

If you have been holding your breath in anticipation of fresh Grand Theft Auto 6 news today, it might be time to let it go. What appeared to be a definitive sign last week that a GTA 6 marketing push was on the horizon now looks increasingly like a case of mistaken identity.

On May 14, Best Buy sparked a frenzy within the gaming community by sending an email to affiliates regarding an upcoming GTA 6 pre-order campaign. Given that Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two, has officially confirmed that a promotional cycle would commence this summer, the email felt credible. The correspondence specifically pointed to May 18 as the launch date for pre-orders. When eagle-eyed fans later spotted two private videos on Rockstar’s YouTube channel, the announcement seemed like a foregone conclusion.

However, as May 18 unfolds, the silence has been deafening. While the day is not yet over, it is becoming increasingly evident that May 18 will not serve as the gateway for GTA 6 pre-orders, nor will it be the debut date for a third trailer. Disillusionment is settling in among the fanbase, driven by two primary factors.

First, a trusted source on the GTA Forums—a Best Buy insider—suggested that internal communications indicated the retailer would not be initiating pre-orders on the speculated date. These claims were corroborated by moderators with a proven track record regarding franchise leaks.

Image: Rockstar Games

While pre-orders can technically launch at any time, these campaigns typically go live during early morning windows, which have long since passed. We are currently waiting to hear if Best Buy officially classifies these affiliate emails as an error.

Furthermore, we must look at historical patterns. Rockstar has historically released trailers at 9 a.m. ET. Had a trailer been slated to accompany a major pre-order announcement, it would have likely premiered by now.

The widespread excitement was understandable; the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit perfectly. It has been roughly a year since we were treated to new footage, making the timing feel right. Retailers like Walmart had updated their store listings, and various European shops were reportedly gearing up for marketing pushes. One retailer even accepted limited pre-orders, though the arbitrary cap of 50 units was, at best, bizarre.

While the day is still young and surprises are always possible, the current lack of activity has left many fans tempering their expectations. The community remains divided between those who are maintaining a sliver of optimism and others who are mocking the “copium” fueling the hype train.

If this ends up as nothing more than a false alarm, at least it has provided some top-tier community humor. As one fan aptly noted amidst the ongoing chaos, “Don’t worry, if nothing happens today, there will be a new theory tomorrow.”

Source: Polygon