Is GTA 6's Game of the Year Eligibility in Jeopardy?

GTA 6 might not even qualify for Game of the Year at this year's The Game Awards, according to recent speculation.

During a recent live stream, actress, games writer, and former games journalist Alanah Pearce shared her doubts about GTA 6's chances of dominating The Game Awards this year, citing the timing of its release. Pearce pointed out that the cutoff date for Game of the Year eligibility at The Game Awards has historically fallen around the same time as GTA 6's launch this year. While some have countered by noting that last year's cutoff was November 21—just two days after GTA 6's release this year—there are still valid concerns.

Chief among them: Would anyone realistically be able to finish GTA 6 before voting on nominees? And if not, would the jury be willing to vote on it without completing it? That would raise significant ethical questions about the voting process. However, there are ways Rockstar's chances could improve. For one, Geoff Keighley, the overseer of The Game Awards, could simply push back the voting deadlines. It's not impossible—Keighley loves a good show, and a GTA 6 sweep would draw massive viewership.

Another possibility is that Rockstar Games could give jury members early access to play the game before the cutoff date. As of now, Rockstar's plans for reviewers are unclear, but such a move would certainly make it easier for the game to secure a nomination. It's a lot of ifs, though.

We can only speculate, but if GTA 6 isn't eligible this year for any reason, it could try again in 2027—and it might still have a shot. Rockstar Games is heavily rumored to launch GTA 6's online mode next year, which would undoubtedly give the game a massive second wind. If that's enough to compete with other heavy hitters like Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Rockstar could be in the 2027 awards race.