GTA 6 Fan’s Death Has Gamers Asking Why Rockstar Couldn’t Give Him Early Access

Jerry Fort, the terminally ill gamer known online as Void Only, died on 29 October 2026, three weeks before the scheduled release of Grand Theft Auto 6 on 19 November.

His family confirmed his death in a social media announcement, prompting tributes from players who had followed his wish to live long enough to experience Rockstar Games' highly anticipated title.

Fort was 25 and had lived with interstitial lung disease since he was 17. His story reached a wider audience in August, when he shared a video from hospital explaining that he needed a lung transplant and wanted to survive long enough to play GTA 6 with his online community.

How Jerry Fort's GTA 6 Wish United Gamers

Fort's August TikTok video showed the difficult circumstances behind his wish. He explained that his illness had left him needing a lung transplant, with the operation carrying additional risks because his lungs were attached to his chest wall.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his health, Fort remained focused on the game's release. He also joked about Rockstar's repeated delays to GTA 6, a frustration familiar to many players who had waited years for the next instalment in the franchise.

For Fort, however, the wait was about more than impatience. He wanted to experience the game himself and stream it with the community that had followed his journey.

Fort's video drew support from gamers, while his mother, Paris Fort, launched a GoFundMe to help cover his transplant and recovery costs. The fundraiser surpassed its initial $15,000 (£11,184) target, raising more than $50,000 (£37,283) in August as supporters hoped he would recover in time to play GTA 6.

GTA 6 Fan Dies After Health Complications

Fort underwent a lung transplant in September, raising hopes that he might still reach the release date he had been anticipating. However, his health subsequently deteriorated following a series of infections and other complications.

In a family update shared on 2 November, a relative described how Fort's condition worsened in the weeks before his death. The family said he died on 29 October, after his health declined further.

Fort died just weeks before the game he had hoped to play. His family described worsening health complications after the transplant, although the available reporting does not establish a more specific cause of death.

The fundraiser eventually surpassed its initial target by a wide margin. A report published on 2 November put donations above $96,000 (£71,573) from approximately 5,000 contributors, up from more than $50,000 (£37,283) raised in August.

The family thanked supporters for helping make Fort's final months meaningful. The donations had been intended to help with his medical treatment and recovery, while the messages of encouragement connected him with people who had rallied around his story.

Fort had also hoped to share his music with a wider audience, according to the family's account. His ambitions extended beyond gaming, even as GTA 6 became the focus of the story that brought him to public attention.

Tributes followed the announcement of his death, with players expressing sadness that he would not live to experience the game. Some also discussed ways to remember him when the title finally launches.

Some fans have pledged to add Void to their gaming usernames in Fort's memory. His mother is also planning a balloon release, while players who hoped to share GTA 6 with him prepare to remember him when the game launches.