This news should reassure many gamers: in an interview with IGN, Strauss Zelnick confirmed that Take-Two has no plans to include product placements in GTA 6. Therefore, real brands such as Coca-Cola, Nike or McDonald’s will not appear in the game. The reason: the world of grand theft car is completely fictitious and should remain so.
Brands such as Sprunk, Burger Shot, Cluckin’ Bell and Pißwasser have been part of GTA’s identity for years. In the game’s satirical universe, they serve as parodies of modern consumer culture. Actual advertising deals, on the other hand, would probably feel out of place. Even the vehicles avoid real-world branding: while many are clearly inspired by real models, they don’t carry real brands. At least 50 new vehicles in GTA 6scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, have already been leaked, including a completely new vehicle class.
On Reddit, reactions to Take-Two’s decision have been largely positive. For many fans, the fictional brands are a fundamental part of the series’ humor and give Rockstar more creative freedom, for example with destructible cars, satirical advertisements or missions targeting fictional corporations. The statement is also interesting from a business perspective. GTA 6 It is expected to be one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, meaning real brand placements could have generated huge advertising revenue. Although the decision has generally been received positively, some members of the community are skeptical about it.
When I was a kid in the ’90s, my Gameboy was my go-to companion. After school, the PlayStation turned on. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since then. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are very important to me: in addition to games, I also like to write about electric mobility, photovoltaic energy and innovative gadgets. When I’m not sitting in front of the computer, I’m probably performing water rescue duties on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the inconveniences of my geek life, i.e. sitting for long periods of time, at the local pool.