In December, a Ubisoft Toronto developer posted on LinkedIn saying a family member who had been battling cancer had been given six to 12 months to live and might not survive long enough to see Grand Theft Auto 6 launch.
The developer, Anthony Armstrong, wrote that the relative was a “huge GTA fan” and lived a short distance from Rockstar Toronto. Armstrong asked connections at Rockstar and elsewhere to help set up an exclusive playtest so the family member could experience the game before passing. Armstrong’s post was later deleted, but a cached copy and screenshots circulated online.
To any of my connections at Rockstar Games and Rockstar Toronto, or anyone else that may be able to help. 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.
The reason I’m reaching out is that they are a huge GTA fan and, with this latest update, he may not be around long enough to actually get to see GTA 6 launch, best case scenario he will be leaving us the same month it does. He currently lives only a stones throw from the Oakville studio, so its my hope that one of you may be able to set up an exclusive playtest, so he can have a chance to experience the game, before passing.
I absolutely understand the need for secrecy at this point of development, so at the very least an NDA is probably needed.
Armstrong later posted two updates. In one he wrote that “the CEO of Take-Two reached out and we are just waiting to hear from the Rockstar team to discuss this further.” In a final update he said, “We spoke to them today and got great news. That’s all I can really say, but thank you all from the bottom of my heart.” Both updates appeared in the cached post before Armstrong removed it from LinkedIn. The original LinkedIn post is available in Google cache and Armstrong’s LinkedIn thread was captured by social channels.
Reports and social posts that circulated copies of the LinkedIn text can be found online. A Reddit thread with screencaptures collected the available images and reactions. Reddit captured screenshots before Armstrong deleted the post. The LinkedIn update Armstrong originally made is here on LinkedIn.
Rockstar Games gave a terminally ill fan with only 6-12 months to live, the chance to experience GTA 6.
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The report notes this is not the first time a studio has allowed a fan with a terminal illness to play a major release early. In 2018, a terminally ill player was allowed to play Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead of launch. Game Rant wrote about that case, and other studios have honored fans in various ways.
Armstrong did not publish details of what happened after the “great news” line. The LinkedIn updates, the cached copy, and social screenshots are the basis for the reporting. Fans and commenters on social media have discussed whether this was an act of compassion or a public relations win for Rockstar amid other controversies. The original LinkedIn text and the subsequent updates remain the clearest record of the outreach and response.
If readers want to follow the conversation or see the captured screenshots, they circulated on Reddit and other social channels after Armstrong removed his public post.
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Grand Theft Auto VI
Developed by Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.
- Genre: Shooter, Racing, Adventure
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
- Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release: 2026-11-19
- Publisher: Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive
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Age Rating:
ESRB RP
