The second trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 – the most anticipated game of 2026 due to delays – dropped in early May without notice from Rockstar Games. While the main focus of the almost three-minute trailer is the relationship between its dual protagonists, Lucia and Jason, the music played throughout has become a stand-out feature. While much of the spotlight has been on the Bonnie-and-Clyde-style dynamic between its dual protagonists, Lucia and Jason, another element has stolen the show: the trailer’s soundtrack.
The standout song, “Hot Together” by The Pointer Sisters, has absolutely exploded in popularity since the trailer’s release. Originally released in 1986, the funky synth-pop track has found new life nearly four decades later — all thanks to GTA.
GTA VI’s Second Trailer Isn’t Just Breaking Records — It’s Launching Songs Into the Stratosphere
A 1980s Single Has Come Back Into Popularity
To put GTA VI’s numbers into perspective, 475 million views in 24 hours places it far ahead of any other video game trailer in history. For comparison, GTA V‘s original reveal trailer — released in 2011 — took months to reach similar numbers. Even major entertainment properties struggle to compete: Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame trailer notched 289 million views in its first 24 hours, and Cyberpunk 2077’s Keanu Reeves “You’re breathtaking” trailer pulled in around 40 million views across platforms over several weeks. In gaming, Fortnite and Call of Duty trailers occasionally flirt with tens of millions — but nothing comes close to what Rockstar just achieved. GTA VI’s second trailer has effectively set a new benchmark, not just for games, but for global media launches across all categories.
Spotify has confirmed that “Hot Together” saw a +182,000% spike in streams following the trailer drop. That’s not a typo — a 182,000% increase. The song has essentially gone nuclear, becoming a centerpiece of fan hype and TikTok trends, with listeners hungry for every detail tied to the game.
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The first GTA VI trailer — released back in December 2023 — pulled off a similar trick. Tom Petty’s “Love Is a Long Road” saw its streams rise by 36,979% in the days following that trailer. Clearly, Rockstar’s music picks are more than just background ambiance — they’re cultural detonators.
Both trailer songs tap into a nostalgic 1980s pop-rock energy, aligning perfectly with the vaporwave-style visuals and neon-drenched aesthetic of the game’s Vice City setting.
Record-Setting GTA 6 Trailers Are A Great Sign For The Game’s Music
A Good Soundtrack Is Essential To A GTA Game
A good radio will likely make or break the long-term experience of GTA 6. Music has always been a key feature in GTA. Players are constantly listening to a huge variety of songs while playing, either throughout the story mode, or on the radio while cruising through the in-game streets. If the music choices in-game don’t resonate with the players, or at the very least don’t add to the experience, then the entire game would be a lesser product.
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The 10 Best Grand Theft Auto Radio Stations, According To Ranker
One of the best parts about playing Grant Theft Auto is its great music and fans over at Ranker have chosen their top 10 GTA V radio stations.
Thankfully, the featured songs in both trailers are classics and indicate that Grand Theft Auto 6’s soundtrack has been well curated. The response from fans to listen to each trailer song en masse already points to the fact that Rockstar is making good choices, and maybe even introducing younger audiences to music they’ve never heard before.
There’s no telling exactly which songs will be in the game this far out from release (though there have been a few leaks), but the choices so far point to the “Dad Rock” radio station being chock-full of bangers. GTA 5 included stations with an incredible range of genres, including indie, soul, funk, West Coast rap, classic rock, and reggae, and with GTA 6 being bigger in almost every aspect, hopefully the selection of radio stations will also be expanded.
- Released
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May 26, 2026
- Engine
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Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer