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August 11, 2026 \u2014 7:10pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n With unprecedented blockbuster<\/a> Grand Theft Auto VI just three months away, anticipation is building among players who are yet to see a decent representation of what the game actually is. But while publisher Rockstar recently confirmed that an \u201cextended look\u201d was coming on August 28, one detail in particular has caused a stir: the video will premiere on Netflix.<\/p>\n No details have been given on what the presentation will include, or how long it will be, although Rockstar has said the video will be available on YouTube and its own website six hours after the premiere. Still, this is uncharted territory for promoting a video game. Generally, prerelease videos are disseminated as accessibly as possible because the publisher needs to drum up hype. Here, Rockstar is saying its first in-depth look at the game is a product unto itself, worthy of a platform that people pay up to $29 a month for.<\/p>\n And Rockstar is not unjustified in its confidence. Grand Theft Auto V was a massive hit that topped bestseller charts for more than 10 years, and is the biggest entertainment product in history by practically any metric. The 2013 game has sold 230 million copies to date, making more than $14 billion in revenue.<\/p>\n Despite consumer backlash over Rockstar\u2019s decision to launch Grand Theft Auto VI as a $130 digital-only game \u2014 with no option to buy it on disc<\/a> \u2014 and its decision to lock certain gameplay elements and features behind a $160 Ultimate Edition, pre-orders for the game have been off the charts.<\/p>\n At a quarterly earnings call last week, Rockstar parent Take-Two reported $US1.4 billion ($1.98 billion) in net bookings, which considering previous reports and its current slate of games, might indicate that GTA VI pre-orders are on track to make $1.5 billion by launch if they haven\u2019t already. Take-Two chief executive Strauss Zelnick said at the call that the pre-orders had been \u201cunprecedented and astonishing\u201d, but defended the game\u2019s high pricing, saying the company was not aiming to maximise cost to consumer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth is that the real cost of a AAA video game is a whole lot lower today than it was 20 years ago. And our goal is to continue to overdeliver for our consumers because how you feel about any experience is the intersection of the experience itself and what you pay for it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo to say that we expect that Grand Theft Auto VI will be an incredible bargain as experiences go is a gross understatement because Rockstar Games is known for overdelivering.\u201d<\/p>\n As with the high cost, debuting new footage exclusively on Netflix will not ultimately hurt the game. But it does feed into an undertone of negativity surrounding GTA VI from some players and commentators, who take issue with Rockstar\u2019s hubris. The game, which has been estimated to have cost about $US2 billion ($2.9 billion) to develop, is destined to be close to the most lucrative media product of all time based on game sales alone. Does it really need to squeeze people with extra paid content at launch, or accept undoubtedly massive stacks of cash from Netflix as well?<\/p>\n \u201cThe next few months are going to be a parade of marketing bullshit they wouldn\u2019t dare try if it were any game other than GTA,\u201d said writer David Smith<\/a> on Bluesky, reacting to the Netflix news.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is unbelievably scummy … This needs to be called out because if any other studio such as Bethesda did this they would be crucified,\u201d said @BaileyPoints<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n Still, not every voice was so critical, especially on forums dedicated to GTA hype. People are desperate to see more of this modernised Bonnie and Clyde story, its fictionalised satirical version of Florida, and the huge assortment of vehicles, guns, locations and activities.<\/p>\n \u201cWaited 13 years, but can\u2019t wait 6 hours longer,\u201d said Reddit user Bong55555<\/a> sarcastically in response to the complaints.<\/p>\n \u201cThey used to do specials, \u2018making-ofs\u2019, and other stuff on network tv to build hype back in the day. Mainly for blockbuster movies. Nice to see it still exists for those that care,\u201d said user buttbuttlolbuttbutt<\/a> in the same thread.<\/p>\n Regardless, the deal speaks to how both Netflix and Rockstar see themselves, and the direction in which games may be moving within wider culture.<\/p>\n Netflix has begun including certain mobile games \u2013 including from Rockstar \u2013 with its subscriptions, and bringing streamed game experiences to its TV app. But it\u2019s also increasingly selling its ability to host live events, including sports and concerts. The GTA VI premiere allows it to flex both angles, tying the Netflix brand to a much-anticipated milestone in mainstream gaming.<\/p>\n Editor’s pick For Rockstar, which knows that practically anybody who seeks out game trailers is already planning to buy GTA VI, Netflix could be a door to a wider audience that isn\u2019t even aware of the game. Netflix has 325 million subscribers globally, a tiny fraction of the potential audience on YouTube. But a big chunk of that base may be immune to online game advertising, with Netflix being the place they go for movies and TV. The presentation will undoubtedly be heavily promoted, and appear at the top of the service\u2019s trending lists.<\/p>\n A similarly meteoric run to Grand Theft Auto V is not guaranteed this time around. That game arrived at the end of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era, when consoles were cheap, and it was then able to re-release on more powerful hardware as a definitive version of an already celebrated game. This time, although the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 have been out for almost six years, hardware prices are going up<\/a> thanks to the dire component shortages caused by AI infrastructure build-outs.<\/p>\n While sales at launch will be strong, Rockstar may ultimately end up relying on companies like Netflix to support its massive game over the next 10 years, if the bulk of casual video game consumers are priced out of the console market and turn to mobile and streaming.<\/p>\n Get news and reviews on technology, gadgets and gaming in our Technology newsletter every Friday. Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f3ee20d7fc93703a26eae5b05c5875afd87d130cfed42110ecf0a5b4b2b09a40.jpeg\")
The afternoon premiere in the US, which will mean the video is exclusive to Netflix at prime-time, will result in the video appearing at 5am in Australia. <\/p>\n![\"Dozens](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/26eb04acf6d23a1f1067555ca350b4f3935095cca48e520feb8da19d609fe51e.jpeg\")
Dozens of vehicles, guns, cosmetic items and in-game shops will be exclusive to the more expensive Ultimate Edition.<\/p>\n![\"PlayStation](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c4278863288dd517c03d598e91b503f181caf7162ffea9a71aa1e7fcdf994ab6.jpeg\")
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Tim Biggs<\/a> is a writer covering consumer technology, gadgets and video games.Connect via X<\/a> or email<\/a>.From our partners