Rockstar Games claims the second GTA 6 trailer holds the record for the largest video game launch in history, albeit unclear what this designation encompasses.
Blast from the Future: Grand Theft Auto 6's Epic Trailer Breaks Records
Last week, Rockstar Games sent shockwaves through the gaming world with the announcement of a significant delay for Grand Theft Auto 6. But fear not, enthusiasts! As an apology, they dropped a jaw-dropping trailer - and it's been packing a punch ever since!
This spectacle unfolds a game that seems more ambitious than anything we've witnessed before, utterly teeming with detail. Fancy wildlife and littered beer bottles? You bet! Adorning the spots under this limelight like never before.
Rockstar claims this trailer to be the biggest video game launch ever, which might seem like just hot air, but they've got the numbers to back it up. In its maiden 24 hours alone, the trailer racked up an astonishing 475 million views across all platforms. And if you thought that was a staggering figure, just keep in mind it's likely increased significantly since. The YouTube version sits comfortably at nearly 95 million views right now.
For comparison, the first trailer, released back in 2023, garnered 93 million views over the same timeframe. It was, by the way, a YouTube exclusive and smashed viewership records - though it couldn't quite outdo BTS[1].
The Hollywood Reporter made an interesting comparison, putting the 475 million number beside major movie releases like "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Fantastic Four: First Steps". These movies' trailers picked up 365 million and 200 million views in their first days, respectively.
One more fascinating tidbit. The trailer's main soundtrack is Hot Together by The Pointer Sisters, a deep cut from a band most popular for hits like I'm So Excited. Despite being quite a long shot from its peak, streams of this song saw a staggering 182,000% increase post-launch, according to Spotify.
"Grand Theft Auto has hacked its way through pop culture like nothing else," said Spotify's Sulinna Ong. "Music has been the cornerstone of the series since the outset, so it's thrilling to see fans both new and established connecting with an iconic track on this scale."
The release date for GTA 6 has been pushed to May 26, 2026. However, we can't be entirely certain about the PC version – while it'd be fantastic to see it come out in the same year, Rockstar's history suggests a 2027 release might not be too far-fetched, or even worse, 2028.
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Rich StantonIn case you haven't noticed, Rich is no newbie to the gaming world. With 15 years of experience under his belt, Rich spans a wide range of outlets, including the Guardian, IGN, and Vice. He served as editor of Kotaku UK before joining PC Gamer and is also the author of "A Full History of Video Games," a must-read for enthusiasts and curious gamers alike.
- The Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, released in 2023, broke viewership records with 475 million views in its first 24 hours, surpassing the viewership of movies like Deadpool & Wolverine and Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6, set to launch in May 2026, has generated a widespread interest that extends across movies-and-tv entertainment, akin to the iconic games in the series.
- The GTA 6 trailer's main soundtrack, Hot Together by The Pointer Sisters, saw a colossal 182,000% increase in streams on Spotify post-launch, demonstrating the game's influence on popular culture.
- Rich Stanton, a well-known figure in the gaming world with 15 years of experience and a diverse career spanning outlets like the Guardian, IGN, and Vice, provides insightful analysis on the latest gaming news through PC Gamer.
- The trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 presents the game as the most ambitious in the franchise, showcasing an abundance of detail and features that fans are eagerly anticipating.
- Despite Rockstar'sclaim that GTA 6 will launch in May 2026, the PC version's release date remains uncertain, with the potential for a 2027 or even 2028 release, based on Rockstar's previous release patterns.
