American video game firm Rockstar Games has reportedly stepped in to fulfil a heartfelt request from a terminally ill fan, offering him a chance to experience the popular action-adventure game Grand Theft Auto 6 ahead of its scheduled release in November.
The story surfaced after a LinkedIn post by Anthony Armstrong, a developer at software company Ubisoft Toronto, went viral last month. Armstrong shared that a close family member, who has been battling cancer for years, had recently been given “6–12 months to live.” Knowing how much the game meant to him, Armstrong reached out to the gaming community in the hope that someone could help make an early playthrough possible.
“The reason I’m reaching out is that they are a huge GTA fan and, with this latest updates, he may not be around long enough to actually get to see GTA6 launch,” Armstrong wrote. He also mentioned that his relative lives “only a stone’s throw” from Rockstar’s Oakville studio, adding to his hope that a private playtest could be arranged.
The post gained traction quickly and eventually caught the attention of video game company Take-Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick. Take-Two Interactive is the parent company and publisher of Rockstar Games.
Armstrong later updated his message to confirm that Rockstar Games had reached out directly. While he didn’t share details, he hinted that the outcome was positive, saying the studio had contacted him with “great news,” and concluded with, “That’s all I can really say, but thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Check out the post:
Rockstar Games granted early access to GTA 6 to a terminally ill fan after his family shared his story publicly pic.twitter.com/YadJquQeoe
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) January 18, 2026
News of Rockstar’s gesture has since spread widely across social media, especially amid ongoing frustration around the game’s repeated delays. GTA 6, originally expected in 2025, was pushed to May 2026 and later delayed again to November 2026, testing fans’ patience worldwide.
Reactions online have been largely emotional and supportive. One user wrote, “Respect to Rockstar. I forgive you for all the delays now.” Another joked, “That’s awesome, but probably means they may not release the game for next 2 years.” Others pointed out that the studio has done this before, with one comment noting, “Rockstar has had a good history of similar acts of kindness, such as granting a dying fan early access to Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018.”
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A fourth individual added, “Massive respect to Rockstar Games for showing true humanity. This is bigger than any game — wishing the fan and his family peace and strength. “
As of now, Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch on November 19. Announcing the latest delay, Take-Two said it remains “confident” the game will arrive on the new date, promising a more refined and polished experience for players.
