Have the Grand Theft Auto VI leaks affected excitement among British gamers?

The marketing rollout for Grand Theft Auto VI– arguably the marquee event in the 2026 entertainment calendar – has been interrupted by a steady stream of leaks showing gameplay, cinematics, and more. Rockstar Games, the developer of the title, has described the release of the illicit material as “heartbreaking”. 

But new data from YouGov Surveys shows that just 12% of gamers have seen the leaks, and attitudes towards the leaks hasn’t negatively impacted excitement for the game. 

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Overall, some 46% say they’re more keen on the game as a result of seeing the leaked content, while 49% say the leaks have made no difference. Just 4% say their excitement has diminished. So, most gamers are unaware of the leaks – and those who have seen them are broadly positive or indifferent. It may not please Rockstar – who have lost control over a meticulously planned marketing campaign – but it may provide some small consolation. 

17% of the public – and two in five British gamers – are likely to purchase GTA VI 

When it comes to general purchase intention, 17% of the public say they plan to buy GTA VI. When we look at Britons who say they are fairly or very interested in <a href="https://comicvibe.com/halo-warcraft-more-xbox-video-games-could-soon-get-new-movie-tv-show-adaptations/" title="Halo, Warcraft, & More Xbox Video Games Could Soon Get New Movie & TV Show Adaptations”>video games, two in five (39%) say they intend to buy GTA VI. Among gamers, two in five say they are very or fairly likely to buy the game (39%). 

Among all who intend to purchase the game, 16% plan to buy it on release day, while  23% plan to do so within a week of its launch on 19 November. Another 23% plan to do so within a month (23%), while a quarter plan to buy GTA VIwithin six months of launch (25%). Some 11% plan to purchase the title later than six months after the game releases. 

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YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online on 26-27 August 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 2,016 adults (aged 16+ years) in Great Britain, 761 of whom said they were very or fairly interested in video games, using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, gender, education, region and social grade to be representative of all adults in Great Britain (16 years or older) and reflect the latest ONS population estimates.