Game Informer has released the digital edition of its November 2026 issue, and Grand Theft Auto VI is on the cover. The timing matters. The issue arrives only weeks before one of the most anticipated game launches in years, and it offers one of the most detailed looks yet at the world Rockstar Games has built.
The cover story runs 14 pages. According to the magazine, it includes new interviews with Rockstar developers and 12 exclusive screenshots. The main focus is Leonida, the game’s setting, and how far Rockstar went to recreate Florida accurately, both in its ecology and its culture.
Print copies are also on the way. Readers who subscribe now will get the Grand Theft Auto VI issue as their first physical magazine. The offer covers the U.S. and 52 other countries.
Inside the Cover Story
Most coverage of Rockstar’s next game has focused on its characters and trailers. Game Informer’s feature instead centers on place. Leonida is the Florida-inspired state where the game returns players to Vice City, following the criminal duo of Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.
Recreating Florida
The magazine says the story explores Rockstar’s effort to capture the real state as faithfully as possible. That covers the natural environment as well as the culture. The publication has not released specifics outside the issue itself, so readers will need the full feature for detail on individual regions or systems.
Why the setting fits the series
Rockstar has long used fictionalized versions of real American places, and its marketing already leans on Florida imagery. When the studio revealed the official cover art in June, Game Informer noted that the center panel features an alligator, which it called the state’s unofficial mascot.
Where Grand Theft Auto VI Stands Before Launch
The magazine feature lands during the final stretch of a long development road. Rockstar first confirmed the game in 2022 and formally unveiled it in late 2023, and the release date has moved twice since.
| Milestone | Date or detail |
|---|---|
| Original target | Fall 2025 window |
| First delay | May 26, 2026, set in a May 2025 announcement |
| Second delay | Pushed back to November 19 later in 2025 |
| Pre-orders opened | June 25, 2026 |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with no PC version planned for the initial release |
The November 19 date has held since then. When Rockstar announced pre-orders in June, it also revealed the official cover art and reaffirmed the November 19 launch. Rockstar could still adjust its plans, but no change has been announced as of this issue’s release.
The Rest of the November Issue
Grand Theft Auto VI takes the cover, but the issue carries a broad lineup of features.
Features and Interviews
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Tides of Annihilation preview | 10 pages by senior associate editor Wesley LeBlanc, who traveled to China to play the action game |
| What makes a “good” bad game | Essay by comedian Mike Drucker |
| Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons | Editor-in-chief Matt Miller talks with Invoke Studios about the dark fantasy action game |
| Gamescom reflections | LeBlanc on attending the show in person and what it said about the industry |
| Finn Wolfhard interview | Executive editor Kyle Hilliard talks with the Stranger Things actor about his music, favorite game soundtracks, and Pokémon fandom |
Previews
The magazine also lists previews of upcoming games, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metroid Ravenous, State of Decay 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, Kirby and the World Beyond, Stage Tour, and Rhapsody in Scarlet, among others.
Reviews
Reviewed titles include Marvel’s Wolverine, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Star Wars Zero Company, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter.
Getting a copy
The digital edition is available now. Print copies go to new subscribers, with the Grand Theft Auto VI issue arriving as their first magazine, according to Game Informer.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and This content is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
