GTA 6 Review Copies Are Reportedly Not Watermarked
Rockstar Games is reportedly taking extra steps to protect Grand Theft Auto VI from leaks as review copies begin reaching selected media outlets and influencers. However, a recent claim about flashing watermarks appearing on review copies has now been challenged by two well-known industry insiders.
The rumour started on October 27, 2026, when content creator Jeremy, better known as ManaByte on X, claimed that Rockstar was putting reviewers’ names on their copies of GTA 6. According to the claim, the names would flash on screen to help the studio identify anyone responsible for leaking footage.
The story quickly spread across the gaming community, especially given Rockstar’s history with GTA 6 leaks. However, NateTheHate and Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson have both pushed back against the claim, saying that review copies are not watermarked in the way described.
NateTheHate and Tom Henderson Deny the Watermark Rumour
On October 29, NateTheHate responded to the original claim on X, saying that, to his knowledge, GTA 6 review copies do not carry watermarks.
Tom Henderson also looked into the rumour and reached a similar conclusion. He said the watermark claim was not true after doing some digging, but added that Rockstar has “some insane security measures in place.”
Neither insider explained exactly what those security measures involve. So, while the flashing-name watermark rumour appears to be inaccurate, it doesn’t mean Rockstar is taking a relaxed approach to protecting its review copies.
For now, the exact methods being used to prevent leaks remain unknown.
Why Is Rockstar Being So Careful With GTA 6 Review Copies?
There are good reasons for Rockstar to take extra precautions. Grand Theft Auto VI has already experienced several major leaks during development, including one of the biggest gaming leaks in recent years.
In September 2022, a hacker gained access to Rockstar’s internal systems and released around 90 videos showing early GTA 6 gameplay. The footage revealed several details about the game long before Rockstar was ready to share them publicly.
The situation didn’t end there. In December 2023, the original GTA 6 trailer also appeared online a day before its planned premiere. Rockstar responded by releasing the official trailer earlier than scheduled.
More recently, a leaker known as CyberLeek reportedly shared advanced gameplay footage, cutscenes and explicit material involving the protagonists. Take-Two Interactive has also taken legal steps to identify the person behind these leaks.
With so much information already appearing online without permission, Rockstar has a strong reason to keep review copies under tight control.
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GTA 6 Review Copies Have Started Going Out
The latest reports also suggest that selected media outlets and influencers have started receiving GTA 6 review codes.
This is an important stage before launch because reviewers need time to complete the game and prepare their reviews. According to reports, the review embargo is scheduled to lift on November 18, 2026, just one day before the game’s expected November 19 release.
That means players should get their first major reviews shortly before they can purchase the game.
Rockstar has not publicly explained how it is protecting these review copies, and the company has not directly commented on the watermark rumour either. For now, players will have to rely on information shared by industry insiders rather than official details from the studio.
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GTA 6 Leak History: A Timeline of Major Incidents
Rockstar’s strict approach to security makes more sense when looking at the major leaks and incidents surrounding GTA 6 over the past few years.
| Date | What Happened |
|---|---|
| September 2022 | A hacker leaked around 90 videos of early GTA 6 gameplay after accessing Rockstar’s internal systems. |
| December 2023 | The first GTA 6 trailer leaked a day before its planned release, prompting Rockstar to publish it early. |
| August 2026 | CyberLeek reportedly shared advanced gameplay, cutscenes and other leaked material. |
| August 2026 | Take-Two took legal steps to identify the person behind the CyberLeek leaks. |
| Late October 2026 | Reports emerged that GTA 6 review copies were being distributed to selected media and influencers. |
| October 27, 2026 | ManaByte claimed that review copies had flashing watermarks showing reviewers’ names. |
| October 29, 2026 | NateTheHate and Tom Henderson challenged the watermark claim. |
| November 18, 2026 | GTA 6 reviews are reportedly scheduled to go live ahead of launch. |
What Happens Next?
Although the watermark story appears to have been debunked by the two insiders, Rockstar’s security measures remain a mystery.
The studio has already experienced several major leaks, and it clearly wants to avoid another situation where important gameplay details appear online before the official release.
With review copies reportedly in the hands of selected outlets and the review embargo approaching, the next few weeks will be important for GTA 6 coverage. Whether Rockstar is using additional tracking systems, restricted access or other security methods has not been revealed.
For now, one thing is worth keeping in mind: GTA 6 review copies are reportedly not watermarked with flashing reviewer names, but Rockstar is still taking serious steps to protect the game from leaks.
