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Rockstar Grants Terminally Ill Fan Early GTA VI Access

Published 19 January 2026

Rockstar Games has reportedly provided early access to its upcoming title Grand Theft Auto VI for a terminally ill fan in Ontario, Canada, allowing the individual to experience the game before its scheduled release next year.

The arrangement follows a public appeal made last December by Anthony Armstrong, a UI integrator at Ubisoft Toronto. In a LinkedIn post, Armstrong sought assistance from his professional network, including contacts at Rockstar Games and its Oakville, Ontario, studio. He explained that a family member, a longtime fan of the Grand Theft Auto series, had been battling cancer for years and recently received a prognosis of six to 12 months to live. The relative resides near the Oakville studio, and Armstrong requested an exclusive playtest session, acknowledging the need for nondisclosure agreements to maintain the game's secrecy during development.

Armstrong's post detailed the urgency, noting that the family member might not survive until the game's launch. "A member of my family who has been battling cancer for years just recently got the worst possible news, he was given 6-12 months to live," he wrote. "They are a huge GTA fan, and with this latest update,...

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