At this point, everyone and their dog knows that Grand Theft Auto 6, the game primed to win 2025's Game of the Year award, has been delayed. It is news that has rocked the gaming world and shocked fans, something that didn't seem possible considering that practically everyone knew this was coming. Much like the Nintendo Switch 2, rumors and speculation had long since spoiled the revelation that GTA 6 would be delayed. That doesn't mean, however, that it hurts any less, especially for those who were eagerly anticipating it.

However, despite GTA 6's unfortunate delay, making people reschedule their time off and agree to try out some other games, it is actually incredible news for 2025. There are so many reasons why Grand Theft Auto 6 should be delayed, some of which Rockstar has even mentioned, which is why we should be celebrating that 2025 is now free from its ever-looming shadow. While we are all sad to see it pushed back even more, 2025 will be a better year without it.

GTA 6 Is Delayed Until 2026

It's To Make Sure It Lives Up To Fan Expectations

Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed until May 26, 2026. Many had already forced to break tradition and release in the middle of the year. The delay will be crushing to those who were keen to play it as soon as possible, but completely understandable considering the circumstances surrounding the game's development.

Rockstar explained via its GTA 6's Switch 2 port. Regardless, delays are expected at this point, especially with such high-budget games as Grand Theft Auto 6. With both Rockstar and Take Two likely wanting it to be the next forever game and replace GTA 5, they can't afford to get it wrong. Rockstar explained in the press release:

With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve. We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.

Recent games like Assassin's Creed Shadows have benefited greatly from numerous delays, and if Rockstar have the resources to delay it further to it's the best game it can be, then it absolutely should. It now has around 246 additional days of development - if it had been released on September 22, the very start of the Fall period - during which time a team as large as Rockstar can accomplish a lot. That extra time also serves another important purpose of giving other amazing games a chance in the spotlight.

GTA 6's Delay Is Great For Other Games

Titles Won't Get Overshadowed

2025 is playing host to a number of extremely exciting titles, from some of the most-anticipated Xbox exclusives we've seen in a long time to absolute behemouths like the must-be-seen-to-be-believed Crimson Desert. We're still due the likes of Fable, The Outer Worlds 2, Ghost of Yotei, Death Stranding 2, Gears of War: E-Day, and so many more, not to mention a plethora of indie games, DLC, and Early Access titles finally launching into 1.0. It is certainly an exciting time to be into video games.

While developers haven't quite confirmed that they were holding back release dates until they found out when GTA 6 would launch, it definitely felt like many of the big publishers and especially indie developers were holding their cards very close to their chests while Rockstar made up its mind. Now that Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed, we'll likely get a flood of more accurate release dates coming in for all the other games we're excited for that may have otherwise been overshadowed.

Of course, it does now become 2026's problem, which is a shame for games targeting that year for their release. However, at least now, Rockstar has given a more specific release date rather than a window, even if fans do think GTA 6 will be delayed again. That means that some of the larger games can shift their marketing strategies around it, rather than being forced to wait and see what happens. It gives developers and fans more confidence and prevents Rockstar from having an unfair hold on the entire industry.

I do feel a tad relieved that Grand Theft Auto 6 has been pushed back, if only because it gives other games the breathing room they deserve. While it would be somewhat unfair to speculate, it's hard to imagine that titles like Baldur's Gate 3 would have had quite the impact had Grand Theft Auto 6 launched even remotely at the same time. I shudder to think what indies or AA games planning a Fall release date would have done, especially considering how even Oblivion Remastered damaged indie titles, and that doesn't have even half the appeal as GTA 6.

GTA 6 Will No Longer Steal The 2025 GOTY

Other Games Get A Shot At Winning It

In addition to giving games a chance to shine, it also allows all the excellent ones people have been adding to their own personal Game of the Year lists to actually earn the award. Many joke that GTA 6 will steal the GOTY award the year it comes out, and it's easy to see why. By all s, it will be one of the best games ever made, so any other titles, no matter how great they are, would likely lose as a result. That would be a shame, especially considering how many great games deserve 2025's GOTY award.

Already we've had Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, Split Fiction, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Monster Hunter Wilds, all of which have been reviewed extremely well and have a very good chance of nabbing the award. It would be a shame to see any of them get snubbed just because they're competing with GTA 6. Again, you could argue that 2026 will suffer the same fate, and that is undeniably true. One hopes then that either no games release in 2026 other than GTA 6, or they're all terrible. I'm joking, of course.

Regardless, GTA 6's delay is good news for all of these games and the many more left to come, like the aforementioned Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, and Fable. We may even get more surprises, like Balatro and Blue Prince coming out of the Steam woodwork that could snatch it at the very last minute. I, for one, am incredibly excited to see what other amazing games come out in 2025, and I think I'm happy to wait a little longer for Grand Theft Auto 6 in exchange.

Source: Rockstar