Ubisoft Toronto developer says Rockstar responded to early GTA VI access request for terminally ill family member
A Ubisoft Toronto developer says Rockstar Games made contact after a public request to help a terminally ill Grand Theft Auto fan play Grand Theft Auto VI ahead of launch. The developer, Anthony Armstrong, shared updates that suggest discussions happened, but no details were disclosed.
Armstrong wrote on LinkedIn in December 2025 that a family member had been given 6 to 12 months to live after a long cancer battle. Armstrong asked contacts at Rockstar Games and Rockstar Toronto about arranging a private playtest, and Armstrong said an NDA would be acceptable.
Source: LinkedIn
A later update on the post said Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick had reached out, and the next step was to hear from the Rockstar team. A final update said Armstrong spoke with Rockstar and received “great news,” with no further explanation.
The LinkedIn post was later deleted or had visibility changed, and most reporting relies on cached copies and screenshots of the text. Rockstar Games and Take-Two have not publicly confirmed what was offered to Armstrong’s family member.
Source: RockStar Games
Rockstar has been linked to a similar request in the past. In 2018, multiple outlets reported that a terminally ill fan in the Netherlands received an early look at Red Dead Redemption 2 after family outreach.
Grand Theft Auto VI is currently scheduled to release on November 19, 2026, according to Rockstar’s official Newswire.
Source: Insider Gaming
