Release Delay and Its Impact on the Industry
It’s rare in the gaming industry for an event to shake the reputation of major awards. However, the delay of GTA 6’s release date has done exactly that. With its launch now scheduled for late November, the game is automatically disqualified from being nominated for The Game Awards 2026. This is due to the event’s strict rules: only games released before a certain date in November are eligible for consideration.
Nomination Criteria and Their Impact
The Game Awards uses strict deadlines to determine its finalists. For example, in 2025, the cutoff for eligible releases is November 22. If a game launches later, it’s pushed to the following year’s awards. Yet even if GTA 6 makes this deadline, its chances remain slim. That’s because preliminary voting closes earlier—on November 5. By then, most journalists and experts simply won’t have had enough time to play the game and provide an informed assessment.
Risks for the Reputation of the Awards and Developers
The current situation raises questions not only about GTA 6’s eligibility but also the credibility of the award itself. If the game ends up among the nominees, it would imply it was evaluated without a thorough review of the final product. This approach could spark dissatisfaction among industry professionals and fans alike. There have already been instances in the past where projects released too close to the voting deadline failed to receive deserved recognition. For example, Metroid Prime 4, scheduled for release in December, will only be eligible next year, while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, launching in December 2024, risks being forgotten by the time the awards are presented.
Rockstar’s reaction and potential consequences
For Rockstar, participating in the awards may not be a top priority. The company has traditionally focused on commercial success and record-breaking sales rather than accolades. Nevertheless, the absence of GTA 6 among the nominees could spark heated debate among industry professionals and players. Questions about fairness and transparency in selecting finalists will once again take center stage. It’s possible that The Game Awards organizers will reconsider their rules to prevent similar situations in the future.
