What Zelnick Actually Said
Speaking directly to The Game Business, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked whether review scores still matter in 2026. His answer was immediate: "Of course. Rockstar's scores are typically in the mid-90s, sometimes high 90s. Not many games can say that. And that's a reflection on Rockstar's commitment to quality." Both GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 hold a 97 on Metacritic. Zelnick is clearly expecting GTA 6 to land in the same territory — and he is putting that expectation on record publicly, months before launch.
Why Getting a 97 in 2026 Is Harder Than 2013
Dan Dawkins, content director at Future and one of the most respected voices in games media, pushed back on Zelnick's confidence. "We are 13 years past the release of GTA 5. The media and cultural environment has completely transformed," he said. "Social media is so noisy. Someone always has to be first to say the thing you like is rubbish." He is right. In 2013, GTA 5 was reviewed by a handful of major outlets and the scores were overwhelmingly positive. In 2026, GTA 6 will be reviewed by hundreds of outlets, YouTube channels, streamers, and social media personalities simultaneously. One controversial mission, one political storyline, one performance issue on launch day — and the narrative can spiral completely out of control before Rockstar can respond.
The Review Copy Problem — Rockstar's Biggest Risk
Rockstar is reportedly considering inviting journalists to a secure location to review GTA 6 rather than sending out traditional review copies. The reason is obvious — they are terrified of leaks. But this approach carries its own risk. Reviewers who feel controlled or restricted tend to be more critical, not less. Zelnick dismissed rumours about skipping physical copies entirely, confirming both boxed and digital versions are coming. But the review process for GTA 6 is going to be unlike anything the industry has seen before — and nobody knows exactly how it will play out.
What Score Will GTA 6 Actually Get?
Based on everything we know — the development time, the budget, Rockstar's track record, the ambition of the project — a score below 90 would be genuinely shocking. The realistic range is 90 to 97. Matching the 97 of GTA 5 is possible but not guaranteed. The game could be technically perfect and still lose points from reviewers who take issue with its tone, its humour, or its depiction of violence. Rockstar has never shied away from controversy — and in 2026, controversy is amplified by social media in ways that simply did not exist in 2013.
What This Means for Indian GTA Fans
For Indian fans the review score ultimately does not matter. If you have been waiting since 2013 for GTA 6, you were always going to buy it regardless of what critics say. What the review score does affect is the conversation — a 95 plus score will make every gaming news website, every YouTube channel, and every WhatsApp group explode simultaneously on November 19. That kind of cultural moment is what makes GTA different from every other game franchise in history. Get ready for it.
My Take
I think GTA 6 scores between 93 and 97. Here is my reasoning — the game is too big, too ambitious, and too long in development for Rockstar to have let it out the door with serious problems. But the 2026 media landscape is brutal and unpredictable. The question is not whether GTA 6 is good. Everyone already knows it will be extraordinary. The question is whether the noise of social media drowns out the signal of actual quality. My bet is on Rockstar. It always has been.
