Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive have postponed Grand Theft Auto 6 from its previous May 2026 release date to November 19, 2026. The delay aims to allow additional time for polishing the game to meet player expectations. This extends the wait since GTA 5's 2013 launch to 13 years.
Announcement Details
Publisher Take-Two Interactive and developer Rockstar Games announced the delay of Grand Theft Auto 6 on November 10, 2025. Originally set for May 26, 2026, the game will now launch on November 19, 2026. The official statement cited the need for 'some additional time to finish the game with the high level of polish players expect and deserve.'
Development Context
This marks another postponement for GTA 6, which has been in development since around 2013, following the release of GTA 5. The gap between the two titles will span 13 years upon launch, far exceeding previous intervals in the series: five years between GTA 4 and 5, four years between San Andreas and 4, two years between Vice City and San Andreas, and one year between Vice City and 3. This reflects broader trends in the industry where development times have lengthened due to rising complexity and costs.
Implications and Perspectives
Eurogamer's Bertie Purchese highlighted the extended wait, questioning if it sets a record for the series. He noted how past GTA releases came more quickly, mirroring faster industry paces in earlier eras. Meanwhile, Chris Tapsell expressed concerns that the long development might make GTA 6 feel outdated, as the open-world genre and cultural satire have evolved rapidly since work began. Rockstar has historically innovated with each entry, but the delay underscores the challenges of maintaining relevance in a fast-changing landscape.
No specific quotes from Rockstar were detailed beyond the polish rationale, but the announcement dominated gaming news that week.