The announcement poster for ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’
| Photo Credit: Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games has officially pushed back the release of Grand Theft Auto VI to May 26, 2026, missing its previously announced fall 2025 window. The studio says the delay is necessary “to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”
The announcement came via a message posted on Rockstar’s website, where the company acknowledged fan disappointment and thanked players for their continued support. “We are very sorry that this is later than you expected,” the statement reads. “The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team.”
This marks yet another instance of Rockstar extending a development cycle. The studio delayed Red Dead Redemption 2 before its eventual release in 2018, and it’s been over a decade since Grand Theft Auto V first launched in 2013. That title remains a juggernaut, still topping Twitch viewership charts in 2024 and holding the position of the second best-selling game of all time.
GTA VI was first unveiled in a record-breaking trailer in December 2023, which surpassed 100 million views in days. Since then, official updates have been scarce. What is known is that the next installment will be set in Vice City and introduce Lucia, the series’ first female lead. The narrative is said to draw inspiration from Bonnie and Clyde.
The delay announcement has already had financial ripple effects. Parent company Take-Two Interactive saw its stock drop 8% in premarket trading following the news. More clarity on the studio’s roadmap may arrive during Take-Two’s upcoming earnings report, scheduled for May 15.
Despite the frustration, Rockstar’s commitment to polish and innovation isn’t new. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has previously defended the studio’s long timelines, noting that each release “needs to be something you’ve never seen before.”
For now, fans will have to wait a little longer. Rockstar says it plans to share more updates soon. Until then, the countdown to GTA VI continues.
Published – May 02, 2025 06:27 pm IST