A critically ill video game enthusiast has reportedly been allowed to play Grand Theft Auto 6 many months before its planned public release, after a personal appeal reached the game’s developer.

The player, identified only as Cole, has been diagnosed with a terminal brain condition and was told he had between six and 12 months to live. With Grand Theft Auto 6 not expected to launch until later this year, the prognosis appeared to leave little chance for him to experience the long-awaited title, which has been nearly a decade in the making.

That situation changed after a relative sought help online. Anthony Armstrong, a Toronto-based developer who works at Ubisoft, posted a message on LinkedIn asking anyone with contacts at Rockstar Games to assist his family member. The message explained that Cole was a lifelong fan of the Grand Theft Auto series and that the upcoming release date meant he was unlikely to be alive when the game officially arrived.

In the post, which was later removed, Armstrong wrote that the timing was especially difficult, noting that in the best-case scenario Cole might only survive until the same month the game launches. He asked whether Rockstar could arrange a private opportunity for Cole to experience the game early, even offering to sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect confidential details.

Armstrong also mentioned that Cole lived close to Rockstar’s Oakville studio in Canada, raising the possibility of a tightly controlled, in-person play session. He stressed that his request was driven purely by a desire to fulfil a final wish, while respecting the company’s need for secrecy around such a high-profile release.

Several weeks after the original appeal, Armstrong shared a brief follow-up suggesting the request had been successful. While avoiding specifics, he wrote that discussions had taken place and that the outcome was positive, adding a message of gratitude to everyone who had helped amplify the request.

Rockstar Games has not publicly commented on the matter, but the update has been widely interpreted as confirmation that Cole was granted early access to Grand Theft Auto 6, giving him the chance to experience the game he had been waiting years to play.