GTA VI News Roundup - January 2026

Despite nothing official from Rockstar, it's been a busy few weeks in the world of GTA 6... From sneak previews, bans and boiler explosions, read all about the latest goings on.

Rockstar vs Fired Developers

An employment tribunal in Glasgow has rejected an application for interim relief brought on behalf of developers dismissed from Rockstar Games while working on Grand Theft Auto VI. The ruling means the fired employees will not be temporarily reinstated or financially supported while awaiting a full tribunal hearing. Rockstar welcomed the decision, reiterating that the dismissals were due to alleged leaks of confidential game information on Discord, not because of union activity.

The case centres on 34 employees dismissed in late 2025, most based in the UK, whose terminations sparked protests and claims of "union-busting" by the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB). However, the judge concluded it was unlikely the union would be able to show that union membership was the reason for the dismissals, noting that some fired employees were not union members, including three in Canada.

Rockstar argued that sharing confidential information with external parties, even informally, constituted a serious leak under its zero-tolerance policy, pointing to previous dismissals worldwide for similar breaches and stressing the potential financial impact on parent company Take-Two Interactive. The union countered that no actual harm resulted, criticised Rockstar's disciplinary process as flawed, and alleged covert monitoring of staff, but acknowledged that interim relief is a very high legal bar.

While the interim application has failed, the IWGB says it remains confident that a full tribunal will find the dismissals unfair and unlawful. The dispute has also drawn political attention in the UK, with senior figures describing the case as "deeply concerning" and pledging further scrutiny as the matter proceeds toward a full hearing.

Explosion at Rockstar North's Offices

Emergency services were called to the Edinburgh offices of Rockstar North early on Monday Jan 19th after a reported boiler room incident caused what was initially described as minor structural damage. Fire crews attended the scene shortly after 5am local time, deploying several vehicles and specialist resources, and remained on site for several hours. No injuries were reported, and crews departed later that morning.

Following early reports, Rockstar Games confirmed that the issue was due to a malfunction in one of the building's heating boilers. The company said the situation was quickly assessed by emergency services, everyone was safe, and the studio was open and operating as normal despite the incident.

The incident comes amid a period of heightened attention on the site following recent protests over staff dismissals, though Rockstar indicated the boiler issue is unlikely to have any lasting impact on operations or the game's planned release schedule.

Rockstar Grants a Dying Wish

Rockstar Games has reportedly fulfilled the wish of a terminally ill fan by arranging for them to play Grand Theft Auto VI ahead of its scheduled November launch. The move followed a public plea from a family member, posted on LinkedIn by Ubisoft Toronto developer Anthony Armstrong, which quickly gained attention across the games industry.

Armstrong explained that his relative, a lifelong GTA fan battling cancer, had been given six to twelve months to live and might not survive to see the game's release. He appealed for help in arranging an early play session, noting the fan lived close to Rockstar's Oakville studio.

The post was later updated to confirm it had reached Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, and that Rockstar had subsequently made contact with "great news".

While details of the experience have not been shared, Armstrong publicly thanked those involved, suggesting the request had been granted.

PlayStation Excludes GTA 6 in "2026 Most Anticipated" List

Sony recently published its official "Most Anticipated Games Coming to PlayStation 5 in 2026" list on the PlayStation website, showcasing a wide range of high-profile first- and third-party titles expected to arrive this year - including Marvel's Wolverine, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Saros, Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, and more. However, one of the biggest games on the horizon, Grand Theft Auto VI, was notably absent from the selection.

The omission has drawn attention because GTA 6 is one of the most highly anticipated games of the decade - if not all time, with a planned release on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and other platforms. Fans and commentators online have speculated that its absence from Sony's curated list could reflect its late-year launch window, the uncertainty behind any additional delays, or simply the editorial choice to focus on titles scheduled earlier in 2026.

Sony's editorial doesn't appear to deliberately snub GTA 6, it's more likely that the list is highlighting a broader calendar of upcoming games rather than providing an exhaustive guide to every anticipated release. Still, the fact that GTA 6 isn't mentioned has nonetheless become a talking point among fans impatient for updates on what remains one of gaming's most talked-about launches.

Russia Threatens to Ban GTA 6 Following Leaked Details of "Male Strippers"

Russian officials have warned that Grand Theft Auto VI could be banned from release in Russia unless allegedly "immoral" content is removed. The threat follows a series of leaks last year - later acknowledged by Rockstar Games - which included details about gameplay features and side content, such as the reported inclusion of male strippers.

Mikhail Ivanov, deputy chairman of the World Russian People's Council, criticised GTA 6 as a "dangerous tool of influence," arguing that such content violates what he described as Russia's moral and spiritual values and could negatively affect younger generations. He called on developers to release a "cleaned" version of the game specifically for the Russian market.

It remains unclear whether Rockstar will alter GTA 6 for different regions. While other games have previously been modified or restricted in certain countries, Rockstar has not commented on any plans to change content ahead of GTA 6's planned November 19, 2026 release.

Strangely enough, Take-Two ceased trading in Russia in 2022 as a response to their invasion of Ukraine, so the game won't even be releasing there at all as things stand!

Is GTA 6 "Content Complete" or not?

Industry insider Jason Schreier has suggested that Grand Theft Auto VI may not yet be "content complete," though he believes its current November 2026 release date feels more credible than earlier targets. Speaking on the Button Mash podcast, Schreier said that when he last heard about development progress, teams were still finalising missions, levels, and deciding what would ultimately make it into the finished game.

Schreier compared GTA 6's development to Red Dead Redemption 2, noting Rockstar's long-standing pattern of setting ambitious release windows before delaying to ensure quality. While he wouldn't be surprised if GTA 6 slipped again, he stressed that the November 2026 date feels "more real" than the previously discussed fall 2025 or May 2026 windows.

According to Schreier, neither Rockstar Games nor publisher Take-Two Interactive would release GTA 6 in a compromised state. With enormous financial and reputational stakes involved, he believes the studio would rather delay the game again than ship it before it meets Rockstar's standards, even if that risks short-term stock price drops.

More News Coming Soon?

Stay tuned for all of the latest GTA VI news as we approach 300 days until the November 19th release date.