Shares of Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ: TTWO) jumped about 5% on Thursday morning, trading near $238, after social media posts spread screenshots claimed to be an email from retailer Best Buy indicating a pre-order window for Grand Theft Auto VI could open on Sunday, May 18.
The screenshots, which have circulated widely among gaming forums and creator communities, were said to show messages sent to members of Best Buy's affiliate program offering a 5% commission for creators who share pre-order links for physical editions of the title. Those alleged internal emails appear to have triggered renewed investor interest in Take-Two, sending TTWO to its highest trading level since January.
Despite the market reaction, the story remains unverified. Bloomberg News and other major outlets were unable to confirm the authenticity of the purported Best Buy email, and neither Rockstar Games nor parent company Take-Two has issued a formal statement confirming a pre-order start date.
Some retailers, including Best Buy, have updated GTA VI placeholder landing pages in recent days, but those pages do not presently include active purchase or pre-order options. The lack of an official announcement leaves the community and investors reliant on the leaked images and retailer page changes for now.
The timing of the speculation intersects with a critical moment for the publisher. Grand Theft Auto VI currently has a scheduled release date of November 19, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The title's timeline has been publicly adjusted multiple times - it was originally targeted for 2025, then shifted to May 2026, before Rockstar officially moved the release to November 2026 with the stated intent to "polish and perfect" the game. Investors see a pre-order launch as a potential indicator that the studio remains on track for the late-2026 release date.
Adding to the market focus, Take-Two is due to report fourth-quarter and full fiscal year 2026 results after the market close on Thursday, May 21. Analysts expect CEO Strauss Zelnick to be asked about the pre-order rumors on the company's conference call. Shareholders are watching for any signals about the game's prospects, including whether GTA VI might challenge the predecessor's milestone of $1 billion in sales within the first 72 hours of release.
At present, the pre-order speculation has moved investor sentiment and retail attention, but confirmation remains pending from the companies directly involved. With earnings and a scheduled release date both imminent, market participants will be parsing official commentary and disclosures closely.
Clear summary: Social media-leaked screenshots purporting to show a Best Buy affiliate email offering creator commissions for GTA VI pre-orders sparked a roughly 5% rally in Take-Two shares to about $238, the stock's highest level since January. The email has not been independently verified and neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has confirmed a pre-order start date; the company will report fiscal Q4 and full-year 2026 results after the close on May 21, where CEO Strauss Zelnick is expected to be questioned about the rumors.