Trailer for hotly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto smashes online records

Grand Theft Auto 6's first trailer is officially the most viewed video game reveal on YouTube, 24 hours after the developer rushed to publish it following a leak.

The trailer for the hotly-anticipated new edition of GTA has dropped and smashed not only one but three Guinness World Records in its first day.

The video - which was released on Tuesday -  was viewed 90,421,491 times in its first 24 hours.

Even outside of the gaming sphere, it's holding its own - being the most viewed non-music video on the platform.

This achievement sees it surpass the famous YouTuber Mr Best, whose most popular video - Every Country On Earth Fights For $250,000 - had 59.4 million views in its first day.

The GTA video also achieved the highest like count for a YouTube trailer of a video game at 8.9 million.

Guinness World Records account posted on X: 'The GTA VI trailer has broken three official records, including becoming the most watched video on YouTube in 24 hours for a non-music video. Who else can't wait to head back to Vice City?' 

READ MORE - Amazing TikTok video shows the difference between GTA6's fictional Vice City and real life - can YOU spot the difference? 

The trailer dropped after a viral leaked version on social media prompted Rockstar - the company behind the game - to move forward the reveal. 

Rockstar Games posted on X at the time: 'Our trailer has leaked so please watch the real thing on YouTube.' 

It's not the first time the developer has had problems with aspects of the game being leaked. 

Last year, development footage of the game was released in a data breach.

The early edition, GTA V, is the best selling game of all time behind Minecraft, but it's been a decade since it was released. 

But it could be overtaken by the new game, which doesn't yet have an official title - just Grand Theft Auto VI.

The new edition, expected to be released in 2025,  features protagonist Lucia alongside male lead Jason in fictional Vice City.

It also appears to feature the first playable female character in the series. 

Sticking to its roots, the teaser shows women having cash thrown over their bodies in strip clubs, posing in bikinis and twerking in skimpy clothes on top of moving cars.

The hotly-anticipated blockbuster game appearing to feature cameos from some real-life infamous characters. 

READ MORE - From hammer-wielding LA 'Susan' to the Miami Joker and Bonnie and Clyde: How GTA6 trailer appears to portray infamous real-life characters who 'inspired' the new game 

Pals David Jones, Russell Kay, Steve Hammond and Mike Dailly came together in 1995 to create the first Grand Theft Auto, slaving in a two-room office above a small shop in the city centre that sold baby clothes.

Mr Dailly - who was behind the 1991 classic puzzler Lemmings - had been playing with the idea of creating a 'virtual 3D city' that would allow gamers to roam freely and do as they pleased.

The initial idea was a far cry from the outrageous, debauched crime shooter that Grand Theft Auto has become famous for, filled with sex and unfettered violence.

Rockstar Games now boasts eight studios, including the Edinburgh-based Rockstar North which is tasked with producing creative content for GTA.

The company is one of the biggest game developers in the UK, with 300 staff members. There are around 80 developers in and around Dundee now as Scotland has become one of the biggest areas for gaming companies in Europe.

Although the game centres around American culture, GTA has stayed true to its roots and included several Scottish references.

Fictional city San Fierro features a wealthy district called Calton Heights, named after the Carlton area in Glasgow, which is notorious for its high crime rate.

The Hippy Shopper chain is also in San Fierro - a twist on the Happy Shopper grocery chain in Scotland and the rest of the UK.