Despite years of massive hype, leaks, trailers, and endless memes, Grand Theft Auto VI currently ranks as only the seventh most anticipated upcoming entertainment release according to a recent consumer survey.
A new report from Screen Engine/ASI (via The Wrap) polled over 1,000 media consumers aged 13-64 during the week of May 2–8, 2026. Respondents were asked an open-ended question: “What is the one upcoming entertainment release (movie, show, video game, etc.) that you are most interested in watching or playing in the next month or so?”
Where GTA 6 Stands
GTA VI received 2.22% of all mentions, earning it a solid spot in the Top 10 with what The Wrap described as “sustained anticipation.” This places it behind several titles that are either freshly released or hitting screens very soon.
Leading the chart was Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu at 4.74%, surging ahead of its theatrical release on May 22, 2026. Other high-ranking entries included The Devil Wears Prada 2 (which had just released), NBA Basketball (with postseason buzz), The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and TV hits like Stranger Things and Euphoria.
Context Matters: Timing Is Everything
The poll highlights a key factor in hype cycles. Most titles ranking above GTA 6 benefit from imminent availability—they’re either out now or just days/weeks away. In contrast, GTA 6 remains months out, with its official release date locked in for November 19, 2026.
Rockstar’s prolonged silence after the second trailer hasn’t helped maintain peak excitement either, though a recent Best Buy pre-order leak has already begun stirring renewed interest.
Long-Term Outlook for GTA 6
This snapshot doesn’t diminish GTA 6’s enormous cultural significance. The game is still widely projected to be one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, with industry expectations that are, in the words of Take-Two’s CEO, “terrifying.” Analysts forecast massive opening sales, potentially in the tens of millions of units.
As marketing ramps up—expected to include a third trailer and pre-orders opening soon—the game’s position in these weekly charts is likely to climb dramatically. Past Rockstar releases have shown how quickly anticipation can explode once official campaigns begin.
For now, the data serves as a reminder that in the attention economy, “soon” often beats “eventually,” no matter how groundbreaking the eventual product promises to be.
Fans can expect more concrete news from Rockstar in the coming months as the November launch window approaches. In the meantime, the GTA community continues to speculate, meme, and wait—much like they have for over a decade.
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