The snug fit might look like a special favour for Rockstar, but industry watcher Shinobi602, who highlighted the dates on X, noted that the cut-off has shifted by only a day or two in previous years. The Game Awards' own FAQ states games must be commercially available on or before the 20 November deadline.

Whether GTA 6 can dominate is the natural follow-up. Rockstar's previous blockbuster, Red Dead Redemption 2, won four awards in 2018, including Best Narrative and Best Performance for Roger Clark's turn as Arthur Morgan. The current record holder is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which took nine wins last year including Game of the Year, surpassing Baldur's Gate 3's previous mark of six.

Rockstar also released a new launch trailer for GTA 6, spotlighting leads Jason and Lucia and the pressures of their high-stakes criminal life. Separately, the company remains in an employment tribunal in Scotland over the sudden dismissal of 31 Rockstar North staff last year. Those affected describe it as union-busting, while Rockstar says the firings were for gross misconduct; a verdict is not expected until well into November, close to the game's launch date.