Rockstar followed GTA BOOM on Instagram before GTA 6 reveal

Rockstar Games briefly followed the Instagram account of independent Grand Theft Auto site GTA BOOM in the days before it published the official Grand Theft Auto VI trailer. The follow appeared in Rockstar’s list of accounts the studio follows and was visible to users who track such changes.

The account appeared on Rockstar’s follow list shortly before the studio posted the GTA VI trailer and related materials. Rockstar has not provided a public comment explaining the follow or its timing.

GTA BOOM describes itself on its website as an independent outlet for Grand Theft Auto coverage and includes a disclaimer: ‘GTA BOOM is in no way affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.’ The site promotes a weekly newsletter with updates, guides and other content and says it has covered the franchise since 2012.

Fans and industry watchers commonly monitor social activity by game studios around major announcements, including follows, replies and other visible changes. Rockstar’s social accounts are primarily used for official announcements and promotional posts; follows have sometimes included media, partners and community creators, but the studio has not published criteria for accounts it follows.

Rockstar released the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer recently; the follow of GTA BOOM was noted by users who monitor the studio’s social activity in the period leading up to that release.