GTA 6 video is beating the new De Niro film on Netflix

A trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI overwhelmed Netflix viewership figures last week, surpassing even the debut of a new Robert De Niro film. According to Netflix, the 25-minute gameplay video titled “GTA 6: An Extended Look” recorded 31.1 million views during its first week of availability, making it the most-watched title on the platform in that period. The footage, which includes gameplay sequences and cutscenes from the main storyline, was captured using a PlayStation 5 and released exclusively on Netflix before appearing on YouTube six hours later. Netflix reported that the trailer topped the list of most-watched English-language titles in 87 of the 93 countries it tracks. It was followed by the thriller The Whisper Man, starring De Niro, which attracted 23.2 million views. The exclusive premiere marked a historic moment, as it was the first time a video game trailer had been shown solely on a streaming service. The deal with publisher Take-Two Interactive, which owns Rockstar Games, has not been disclosed publicly, including financial terms or duration. On YouTube, the GTA 6 trailer has accumulated over 17 million views since being uploaded to Rockstar’s official channel. However, these numbers are not directly comparable to Netflix's figures due to differences in how views are counted. On YouTube, each initiated playback counts as a view, while Netflix calculates total viewing hours divided by the content’s runtime. Additionally, the trailer appears on numerous unofficial channels, further complicating the comparison of overall reach. The release of the trailer came after a week of leaks beginning on August 18. An anonymous user known as “Cyberleek” posted clips from an unfinished version of the game, sparking widespread interest and speculation. Rockstar described the situation as painful for the team, acknowledging the impact of such leaks on their development process. In response, Take-Two has taken legal action against the leaks, filing four requests for DMCA subpoenas targeting Discord, Microsoft, X (formerly Twitter), and Google. These requests aim to obtain data from accounts that communicated on specific servers since June 1. Rockstar has yet to announce a PC version of GTA 6. The game is scheduled to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The leaks and subsequent legal actions have raised questions about the security of pre-release content and the challenges faced by developers in protecting intellectual property. The success of the GTA 6 trailer on Netflix highlights the growing influence of video games in mainstream media consumption. With millions of viewers accessing the content through a streaming platform, the event underscores the intersection of gaming and entertainment industries. As the release date approaches, anticipation continues to build among fans and industry observers alike. The legal battle involving Take-Two and the leaked material could set a precedent for future cases related to digital content protection. Meanwhile, the unprecedented viewership of the GTA 6 trailer suggests that the game will be one of the most anticipated releases of the year.