GTA 6 Trailer Shatters YouTube Record for Non-Music Videos
The highly anticipated first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI has officially rewritten YouTube history. Within just 22 hours of its release, the video accumulated an astonishing 85 million views, comfortably overtaking the previous record held by content creator MrBeast for the most views on a non-music video within a 24-hour window.
A Decade of Anticipation
The fervor surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI is the culmination of over a decade of waiting. The franchise’s predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, debuted in September 2013 and set a monumental industry benchmark. According to Guinness World Records, the fifth installment generated $815.7 million in revenue during its first day, moving 11.21 million copies. It remains the second-best-selling video game in history, trailing only Minecraft.
The Leak That Forced an Early Premiere
Rockstar Games originally intended for the trailer to debut on Tuesday morning. However, an unauthorized leak on X (formerly Twitter) forced the publisher’s hand. Rockstar opted to release the official version immediately and moved to take down the leaked footage.
The company addressed the situation directly on X, stating, “Our trailer has leaked so please watch the real thing on YouTube.” The post garnered significant engagement, reaching 82 million views and 1.1 million likes.
Comparing the Records
Before this surge, the record for non-music videos was held by MrBeast, whose August video featuring contestants from every country reached 59.4 million views in its first day. While GTA 6 has firmly established itself at the top of the non-music category, it still faces the challenge of the all-time YouTube 24-hour record:
- Current Music Video Leader: BTS’s “Butter,” which amassed 108 million views in 24 hours.
- GTA 6 Milestone: 85 million views in 22 hours.
With the game officially slated for a 2025 release, the massive viewership numbers underscore the enduring power of the Rockstar Games brand. The industry now watches to see if the trailer’s momentum will eventually challenge the record set by the K-pop group BTS.