Entertainment
Netflix streams exclusive 'Grand Theft Auto VI' preview in marketing deal with Rockstar
The six-hour exclusive window marks a strategy shift for Netflix toward promoting major titles rather than developing in-house games.
The short version
- Netflix broadcast 27 minutes of exclusive PlayStation 5 footage for Grand Theft Auto VI in partnership with developer Rockstar Games.
- The content remained exclusive to Netflix subscribers for six hours before being made available on platforms like YouTube.
- The promotional collaboration comes as Netflix pivots toward marketing major video games following the closure of two internal development studios.
- The official preview took place shortly after hackers leaked gameplay and plot details online.
Key facts
- Netflix released 27 minutes of Grand Theft Auto VI footage captured on a PlayStation 5 at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday.[Wired · Variety]
- The footage was made available exclusively to Netflix subscribers for six hours before expanding to YouTube and other platforms.[Wired · Variety]
- Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for full release on November 19 by developer Rockstar Games and publisher Take-Two Interactive.[Wired]
- Netflix previously closed two of its studios and reduced focus on developing big-budget video games after struggling to gain traction with mobile gaming.[Wired]
- The broadcast occurred shortly after unauthorized hackers leaked gameplay footage and story spoilers online.[Wired · Variety]
What remains uncertain
- It is undisclosed whether Netflix paid Take-Two Interactive for exclusive streaming rights or if Take-Two paid Netflix to access its subscriber base.[Wired]