TOPLINE
The first “Grand Theft Auto VI” trailer shattered the record for YouTube’s most-viewed trailer launch of all-time on Monday, according to YouTube, raking in more than 93 million views in 24 hours.
KEY FACTS
The GTA VI trailer, which was released prematurely by Rockstar Games due to a leak, became YouTube’s most-viewed trailer launch ever in addition to setting a view record for a non-music video debut, according to a statement from the video platform.
The 90-second trailer, which also broke a Guinness World Record for most viewed video game reveal on YouTube in 24 hours, has more than 123 million views as of Thursday and is still YouTube’s No. 1 trending video after being published Monday.
The views brought in by the trailer don’t come as a surprise given the announcement post for the trailer posted last week on X, formerly known as Twitter, racked up 2 million likes and well over 150 million views.
Some details of GTA VI’s setting, main characters and story were revealed in the trailer, confirming a range of leaks and theories that floated online for the past few years.
YouTube creators have generated more than 250 million views off videos related to GTA VI, according to YouTube.
BIG NUMBER
190 million. That’s the number of “Grand Theft Auto V” units sold in the game’s 10-year lifespan, making it the third-best-selling video game of all-time behind Tetris (No. 1) and Minecraft (No. 2).
KEY BACKGROUND
The “Grand Theft Auto” franchise is a powerhouse in gaming and has set numerous records across its eight game series. The franchise’s most recent installment, GTA V, released in 2013 and has maintained an online multiplayer base ever since. Despite Rockstar Games updating GTA V’s multiplayer feature, players have clamored for another installment for more than three years. GTA VI, which will release in 2025, was subject to leaks and theories that gave information on the upcoming video game. One leak caused by a network intrusion last year revealed two of the game’s main characters as well as its setting, both of which were confirmed by the GTA VI trailer this week.
FURTHER READING
‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Trailer Finally Drops After Years Of Anticipation—And Leak On X (Forbes)