GTA 6 Review Copies Not Watermarked?
Short answer: Probably not. Tom Henderson (Insider Gaming) and NateTheHate say they found no proof that GTA 6 review copies show a watermark with the reviewer’s name. Henderson says Rockstar does have “some insane security measures in place”.
By Jake Morrison · Sources checked by GTA6Geek Editorial · Published · Last updated · 4 min read
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What happened?
Earlier this week content creator ManaByte claimed that GTA 6 review copies show a watermark with the reviewer’s name on screen, to stop leaks. We covered that claim on our review embargo page.
On 29 October 2026 Notebookcheck reported that two well-known insiders say the watermark claim is not true, as far as they know.
Is this real? Reported, but not confirmed by Rockstar yet
Who said it: Tom Henderson (Insider Gaming) and NateTheHate, on X, reported by Notebookcheck. Sources: Notebookcheck. Our view: Both are known for accurate GTA 6 reports, but Rockstar has not explained its review security. The watermark claim came from ManaByte. Checked: 29 Oct 2026.
What did the insiders say?
- NateTheHate posted on X that the watermark claim is not true, to his knowledge.
- Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming said he did some digging and found no evidence of watermarks, but that Rockstar has “some insane security measures in place”.
- What those security measures are is still not known.
Key review dates
- Review codes reportedly went out to media and influencers in late October.
- The review embargo lifts on 18 November 2026, one day before launch.
- Pre-load starts on 12 November and the game launches on 19 November 2026.
- The PS5 download is reported at about 210 GB.
Why it matters
GTA 6 has had big leaks before, so Rockstar is being very careful with review copies. Expect reviews on 18 November. See the GTA 6 reviews and Metacritic page.
Sources
Labels: Official = Rockstar or the company itself, Reported = previews or press, Unconfirmed = not stated by Rockstar.
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Frequently asked questions
Are GTA 6 review copies watermarked?
Probably not. Tom Henderson and NateTheHate say they found no proof of it. Rockstar has not commented.
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
The review embargo lifts on 18 November 2026, one day before launch.
When does GTA 6 come out?
19 November 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
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