According to Rockstar Games' parent company Take-Two Interactive, the game recently suffered a delay from a purported fall 2025 release to May 26, 2026. The stated reason for the delay was that Rockstar needed more time to polish the game to get it to a level that it and players would be satisfied with.

As reported by VGC, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated during the company's earnings release on Thursday that the scope and scale of GTA 6 will be worth the wait, saying: "The ambition and complexity of Grand Theft Auto VI is greater than any previous Rockstar title, and the team is poised to release another astonishing entertainment experience that will exceed players’ expectations." Zelnick also confirmed that the game has only been in development since 2020.

Take-Two Has High Hopes For GTA 6 (For Good Reason)

It's One Of The Most Anticipated Entertainment Launches Ever

There is a lot riding on the release of GTA 6, not just for Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive, but for the entire industry. According to Zelnick, "the title is now the most anticipated entertainment property of all time." It was reported that several game developers and publishers were refusing to commit to a release date until GTA 6 had one. Recently, some developers have been allegedly "praying" for another GTA 6 delay, in hopes of avoiding what might become the stiffest competition in game history.

Speaking about the decision to delay the game, Zelnick said that he believed giving Rockstar Games more time with the title was a "worthy investment." The game's new launch date in May 2026 will put it in Take-Two Interactive's 2027 fiscal year. Take-Two Interactive also wanted Rockstar to be able to fully realize its ambition for the game, with Zelnick saying the game's delay was necessary "to make sure Rockstar Games achieves its creative vision with no limitations."

Our Take: Delaying GTA 6 Was The Right Move

We Don't Need Another Broken Game Release

Delaying GTA 6 and getting a better product that aligns with Rockstar's vision for the game would be better than getting a rushed product that doesn't meet expectations. We have seen several ambitious games get rushed for release, and the result is almost always disappointing. One of the most memorable rushed releases was Cyberpunk 2077, which saw some of the worst bugs and glitches ever in a "finished" triple-A game. It then took years for developer CD Projekt Red to fix the game, and fans are still skeptical about the quality of its next game.

The whole industry seems to be waiting for more news about GTA 6. Just after the delay, Rockstar released the much-anticipated Trailer 2 for the game, and it quickly got view numbers higher than the entire population of the US. For fans, it's about getting a quality product. For Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive, it's about meeting the astronomical expectations of the title. For the industry, it's about whether Grand Theft Auto 6 will get delayed again and if other games could even risk releasing near it. Another delay is always possible, but Take-Two seems quite confident.

Source: VGC