Terminally ill longtime ‘Grand Theft Auto’ fan passes away weeks before ‘GTA 6’ release
Members of the community have shared tributes and called on Rockstar Games to honour Jerry Fort in the upcoming title
Jerry Fort, the terminally ill Grand Theft Auto fan who hoped to play and stream GTA 6 at launch, has died aged 25, just weeks before the game’s scheduled release on November 19, 2026.
Fort reportedly passed away on October 29 following health complications and a severe infection after undergoing lung transplant surgery.
His sister confirmed his death in a TikTok video shared through his social media channels on November 2.
In the four-minute video, she discussed his battle with interstitial lung disease and his wish to experience GTA 6.
She also thanked the gaming community, which raised approximately $50,000 through a fundraiser to support him and help him reach the game’s launch.
Fort had previously explained in an August 2026 TikTok video that his lungs had become attached to his chest wall, making the transplant particularly dangerous.
Despite the challenges, donations exceeding the original fundraising target gave him renewed hope.
He had planned to stream GTA 6 on release day but sadly did not live to see the game arrive.
Following the news, members of the GTA community have shared tributes and called on Rockstar Games to honour Fort in the upcoming title.
One user on X wrote, “The first cruise around Leonida is for him, and everyone else who didn’t make it. A lot of good people who were excited for not just this game, but life, taken too soon.”
Another player wrote, “From here on out, we play this game in his honour.”
Fort’s story has left a lasting impression on fans awaiting GTA 6, with many remembering his optimism and determination during his final months.
