GTA 6 could impact cinema attendance and streaming service audiences
Hollywood fears that the release of GTA 6 will distract viewers from films, online cinemas, and music services.
The Hollywood Reporter has investigated how the film industry is preparing for the release of GTA 6 and the extent to which the game's large-scale launch could influence the entertainment market. Industry representatives believe that Rockstar Games' project is capable of altering audience habits, although the exact consequences are still difficult to predict.
One executive from a major cinema chain suggested that attendance at screenings could decline following the game's release. However, he emphasized that the scale of the impact can only be assessed after the launch. As an example, he cited the difference in pre-release demand for the films "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" and "Scrooge: A Christmas Carol" starring Johnny Depp.
According to experts, streaming platforms may feel the strongest competition from GTA 6, as video games and online cinemas vie for the same audience's free time. Some impact is also expected on the music industry: tracks associated with the game have already garnered 26 million streams on Spotify, and the official soundtrack will be released on December 11.
Geoff Keighley, host and producer of The Game Awards, described the upcoming release as potentially the largest launch in media history. In his view, GTA 6 could become the biggest entertainment event for a vast number of people until the end of 2026.
The game is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026. It will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
