GTA 6 release date 'leak' has been explained as big announcement looms

The internet went a little stir-crazy this week when the release date for GTA 6 was apparently 'leaked' online.

Produced by Rockstar and its parent company Take-Two Interactive, the two have remained schtum on the issue of when we can expect the latest instalment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise that is set to dominate the gaming market for years to come.

With rumours of a $100 price tag, the instalment will return to the classic GTA setting of Vice City where gamers will play as Lucia, the universe's first female protagonist in 25 years.

After months - and months - of silence on all things GTA 6 when it comes to official announcements, gamers were give a glimmer of hope this week when one store listed the game for sale with a release date. But all isn't as it seems.

GTA 6 release date 'leaked'

South American video game retailer XUruguay was the reason for the leak, with the Montevideo retailer popping GTA 6 on its website for presale.

Advertising the game for sale for PlayStation 5, it listed GTA 6 to go on general sale from 17 September, 2025.

Until now, all fans had been told on this issue was that the game was coming in the autumn of the year with no specific date mooted.

And according to reports from gaming industry website 80 Level, their source spoke to an individual from the store who said they work directly with PlayStation when it comes to listing matters such as when games are going on sale.

LADbible went and checked out the XUruguay website where we saw for ourselves that the game was listed for 17 September, as seen below in our own screengrab.

Update on the 'leaked' GTA 6 date

The screenshot hinted at a possible release date (XUruguay)

Since then, the link on the XUruguay website to GTA 6 now returns no result. Instead of the above advert, we get a 'Page not found (404)' response.

"This page does not exist or has been deleted. We apologise for the inconvenience," it says.

Alongside this, XUruguay has issued clarity surrounding the 17 September release date. And it's not good news for those of us who thought it was almost time for some more GTA.

Alongside a lengthy statement, the website says: "The only thing that is certain is that we were wrong, one of the most important games in history is coming and we are eager to see it."

Statement from XUruguay on the GTA 6 release date 'leak'

GTA 6 is coming this year (Rockstar)

"Like all fans, we are super excited and expectant for the release of GTA VI, taking as a reference the release of the previous game GTA V which was on September 17, 2013," a statement from XUruguay reads.

"It was not our intention to cause confusion and we want to clarify that we did not receive any official information from any of the brands regarding the game's release date. Like you, the only rumours we are aware of are that it may be in Fall 2025 (September, October or November), but there is nothing officially confirmed and we have no additional information."

The statement added: "On behalf of the entire XUruguay team we apologise if we excited any gamer or affected any person with the wrong release date of GTA VI, which was simply a mistake. A new guy told us the release date of GTA was already on Google (it was that of GTA V) and we told him okay then, put it (it was more of an inside joke that escalated).

"When the speculation began, we know that it is not the correct date since the releases are on Tuesdays or Fridays and this date is a Wednesday."

When will we know more about GTA 6?

We'll know soon when the new game comes out (Rockstar)

Next week. On 6 February, Take-Two will release its latest earnings report.

In this, the company will give shareholders an update on its financial situation, which includes the products it creates and sells. That includes GTA 6.

The last earnings report in the autumn of 2024 confirmed that a 2025 release was still on the cards for the game. It went one further too, saying we can expect it in the Fall / Autumn. Will we get a date this time? Or maybe even a second trailer? Either way, fans are holding their breath.