In December 2023, Rockstar Games unveiled the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, which stormed the internet, amassing 90,421,491 views in just 24 hours and claiming the title of the most-viewed non-music video debut on YouTube. This milestone dethroned a previous record held by YouTuber MrBeast and earned GTA 6 Trailer 1 a prestigious Guinness World Record for the most-viewed video game reveal. The second trailer, released on May 6, 2025, aimed to challenge this benchmark but ultimately fell short, despite generating massive global excitement.
As soon as the second trailer dropped, Guinness World Records took to its official X account, reaffirming that GTA 6 Trailer 1 held the record with its 90,421,491 views in 24 hours, setting the target for Trailer 2 to surpass. Despite the fervent anticipation, Trailer 2, released on May 6, 2025, garnered an impressive 75,913,751 views within its first 24 hours, according to YouTube analytics at the time of reporting. While this figure reflects the enduring hype for GTA 6, it wasn’t enough to eclipse the record, with the 24-hour window now closed.
The second trailer, which dropped unexpectedly on May 6, 2025, continues to showcase the vibrant, chaotic world of Vice City, featuring protagonists Lucia and Jason in a Bonnie-and-Clyde-inspired narrative. Despite not breaking the record, the trailer has captivated fans with its stunning visuals, self-referential humor, and subtle nods to the game’s tumultuous development history, including a 2022 leak of over 90 development videos. Rockstar Games confirmed that the trailer was captured entirely in-game on a PlayStation 5, blending gameplay and cutscenes to highlight the title’s graphical fidelity.
GTA 6 Trailer 2 Milestones & Fan Reception
While Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2 may not have eclipsed the first trailer’s record, it has achieved remarkable milestones of its own. Within just four hours of its release, the trailer garnered 19 million views, 312,000 comments, and 3 million likes on YouTube, signaling an unprecedented level of engagement. Posts on X reported the trailer reaching a million likes in just 40 minutes on Rockstar’s channel, underscoring the immense anticipation surrounding the game. Additionally, Rockstar complemented the trailer with 70 new screenshots, fresh artwork, an updated website, and the ability to wishlist GTA 6 on the PlayStation 5, further fueling fan excitement.
Online sleuths and gaming communities have meticulously analyzed the trailer, uncovering hidden details that hint at the game’s expansive map and dynamic NPC behaviors. The trailer’s opening line, delivered by Jason about “fixing some leaks,” has been widely interpreted as a playful jab at the 2022 security breach, adding a layer of self-awareness that resonated with fans. Game developers have also praised the trailer, with some describing GTA VI as “a AAA game from the future” due to its unparalleled visual quality.
The release of Trailer 2 coincides with Rockstar’s announcement that Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed to May 26, 2026, a decision that disappointed some fans but was tempered by the studio’s commitment to exceeding expectations. Rockstar’s founder, Sam Houser, emphasized the goal of pushing the boundaries of immersive, story-driven open-world experiences (via Game Developer). The delay has not dampened enthusiasm, as evidenced by the trailer’s viral performance and the ongoing speculation about gameplay features, map size, and a potential PS6 tease spotted in a brief console shot.
As Grand Theft Auto VI inches closer to its release, the second trailer has solidified its status as a cultural phenomenon, even if it didn’t break the YouTube record. With fans eagerly awaiting more updates and the promise of a gameplay-focused trailer in the future, Rockstar Games continues to build anticipation for what many believe could be the greatest game of all time.
