GTA 6 Release Pushed to May 2026

Rockstar Games has announced a delay for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, pushing its release date from the initially planned fall 2025 to May 26, 2026. In their official statement, Rockstar expressed their apologies for the delay and acknowledged the immense excitement surrounding the game. "We are very sorry that this is later than you expected," they stated. "The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game."

Rockstar emphasized their commitment to delivering a high-quality product, stating, "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." They also promised to share more information with the community soon.

While Rockstar's announcement confirmed the new release date for GTA 6, it did not include any new assets or trailers, leaving fans eagerly awaiting more details. There was also no mention of the game's launch platforms, fueling speculation that GTA 6 could see a simultaneous release on PC alongside PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in May 2026.

Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, had previously expressed cautious optimism about meeting the fall 2025 deadline, stating in February, "Look, there's always a risk of slippage and I think as soon as you say words like absolutely, you jinx things... So we feel really good about it." However, in a recent note to investors on May 2, Zelnick endorsed the delay, moving GTA 6 into Take-Two's 2027 fiscal year. He supported Rockstar's decision, saying, "We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be a groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience that exceeds audience expectations."

Zelnick also highlighted Take-Two's commitment to excellence and their expectation of a multi-year growth period for their business, enhancing value for shareholders despite the delay.

The delay of GTA 6 opens up the second half of 2025 for other game releases, potentially giving titles like Gearbox's Borderlands 4, EA's Battlefield, Bungie's Marathon, and Sony's Ghost of Yotei more room to breathe and succeed. Nintendo, gearing up for the Switch 2 launch, is also likely to benefit from this shift. However, developers and publishers who had planned their game launches around the original GTA 6 release window may need to reassess their strategies, especially those targeting a release around May 2026.