GTA 6 release date revealed: May 2, 2025 – Take‑Two Interactive and its subsidiary Rockstar Games have announced that Grand Theft Auto VI will now launch on May 26, 2026. The game had been expected in fall 2025, but developers say they need more time to reach their quality goals.
Players first saw a trailer for GTA VI in December 2023. It quickly broke records, gathering over 100 million views in less than a day. Since then, excitement has only grown. Fans have studied every frame for clues about the new setting, characters, and gameplay features. The world will return to a modernized Vice City. For the first time in the series, one of the main characters will be female.
Take‑Two’s CEO Strauss Zelnick said the company fully supports Rockstar’s decision. He stressed that giving the team extra development time will help deliver “the level of quality you expect and deserve.” Zelnick noted that Rockstar has a strong track record of hitting high standards, pointing to past delays on Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA V that led to highly praised final products.
The delay had an immediate financial impact. Take‑Two’s stock fell more than 8% on the news, wiping out much of the gains it saw earlier in the year. Analysts kept an “overweight” rating on the shares but warned that the longer wait could open a window for rival publishers. Electronic Arts, for example, may time a new Battlefield release to compete directly during the gap left by GTA VI’s postponement.
Moving GTA VI out of fiscal 2026 means its sales will now count in fiscal 2027. That shift could leave a hole in Take‑Two’s revenue forecasts for the year ending March 2026. Still, the company said it expects record revenues in both fiscal 2026 and 2027, thanks to continued strength in its existing franchises and other upcoming releases.
Industry observers say such large delays are becoming more common. As video games grow in scale and ambition, development teams need extra months—or even years—to polish open worlds, online features, and cinematic storytelling. While fans may be disappointed, many also appreciate the transparency and commitment to quality.
For now, Rockstar plans to use the extra time to refine gameplay systems, expand the map, and enhance graphics and performance on next‑generation consoles and PCs. The studio has not yet detailed any new features or changes that prompted the delay. It did, however, apologize to fans in a blog post and thanked them for their patience and support.
Looking ahead, gamers can mark their calendars for May 26, 2026. Until then, Rockstar will likely release more trailers, developer diaries, and perhaps playable demos to maintain excitement. The delay also gives content creators, streamers, and media outlets additional time to plan coverage, giveaways, and special events around what is sure to be one of the biggest game launches in history.
In short, Grand Theft Auto VI’s extra year of development aims to ensure the final product lives up to immense expectations. While the wait is longer than many hoped, it reflects a broader trend of studios prioritizing polish over deadlines. Fans will just have to bide their time until late May 2026 – when they can finally step back into the streets of Vice City.
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