GTA 6 Online Update: Age Check Looms, Launch Delayed to 2026

The Official Delay and Looming September 2026 Release

For a company as secretive as Rockstar Games, delays are almost part of the brand. The original announcement of a late 2025 launch for Grand Theft Auto VI felt optimistic to many, and those fears were confirmed when the official release date was revised to May 26, 2026. While frustrating, this decision reflects Rockstar’s unwavering commitment to delivering a polished, bug-free, and groundbreaking experience. The game, with a rumored budget of over a billion dollars, is not just another title; it is expected to be a generation-defining moment for the entire industry.

The sting of the official delay has been exacerbated by recent insider leaks. Gaming leaker Millie A, whose track record is respected within the community, recently posted on social media that internal discussions at Rockstar are now pointing toward a September 2026 launch. This would mark a second significant delay and could push the game’s release by a full nine months from its most recently confirmed date. While Rockstar has not commented on this speculation, the gaming world is bracing for another extended period of waiting, a familiar feeling for fans who have been following the development since 2014.

Interestingly, this new leak also includes details about a potential tiered pricing structure. The rumor suggests a standard edition at $69.99, a deluxe edition at $89.99 with early access to GTA Online , and a premium edition for over $100 with “first access” to the online component. This strategy, if true, indicates that Rockstar is leaning heavily into the massive financial potential of its multiplayer mode and is looking to incentivize players to spend more for the chance to jump into the action earlier.

A New Era for GTA Online: Mandatory Age Verification on the Horizon

Perhaps the most significant and immediate change facing the Grand Theft Auto community is the rumored implementation of a mandatory age verification system for GTA Online . According to respected dataminer Tez2, Rockstar is actively working on a system to require players to prove their age before accessing certain parts of the game.

This move is not happening in a vacuum. It is widely believed to be a direct response to new legislative changes, most notably the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act, which came into force on July 25, 2025. This law mandates that platforms with user-generated content and potential for harmful material must take steps to prevent minors from accessing it. Given the often-chaotic, violent, and explicit nature of GTA Online , a game that has been a magnet for a younger audience since its release, this kind of compliance was only a matter of time.

The implications for players are substantial. The leaks suggest that a failure to verify one’s age could lead to a complete lockout from the game or, at the very least, severe restrictions on key features. These include in-game phone messages, text chat, and the popular Snapmatic photo-sharing app. The verification process itself is reportedly a multi-step process involving a QR code, a website link, and potentially uploading personal identification or using AI-based age estimation. While designed to enhance player safety and comply with regulations, this has sparked a new debate about data privacy and access for the game’s enormous user base.

Trailer Hype Remains Intact, Shattering Viewership Records

Despite the delays and new concerns, the hype for Grand Theft Auto VI is not just alive; it’s thriving. Rockstar Games proved it has a masterful grasp on its fanbase by dropping a new, in-depth trailer simultaneously with the delay announcement. This move successfully converted what could have been a moment of widespread fan disappointment into a frenzy of renewed excitement. The second trailer for the game has now officially been crowned the “biggest video launch ever,” with a staggering 475 million views across all platforms in just 24 hours.

This record-breaking figure is an extraordinary achievement, surpassing the previous record held by the trailer for the movie Deadpool & Wolverine , which had 365 million views. It also completely overshadowed the first GTA 6 trailer’s already impressive 93 million views on its debut day. The trailer itself, which provided a more intimate look at the dual protagonists Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval and showcased the game’s stunning graphical fidelity, has only fueled the anticipation for what is to come. The message is clear: no other entertainment property commands global attention quite like Grand Theft Auto .

The Promise of a Next-Gen Online Experience

While a great deal of the hype is focused on the single-player campaign, the online component of Grand Theft Auto VI is poised to be a game-changer. The leaks hint at a massive overhaul of the online experience, with one of the most exciting rumors being the potential for 96 players per session. This is a monumental increase from the 30-player limit of GTA Online and could lead to unprecedented scale in multiplayer activities, from gargantuan heists to sprawling gang wars and cooperative missions.

Beyond player count, there are whispers of a fully seamless world with no loading screens, allowing for a truly immersive and uninterrupted experience. This technological leap, if realized, would make the online world of Leonida feel more alive and dynamic than any open-world game to date. The combination of a massive player capacity and a seamless environment points to a future where GTA Online becomes an even more powerful, persistent world, building on the success of its predecessor and setting a new standard for the genre.