Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated GTA 6 has now officially been delayed.
Originally set to launch in Fall 2025, it will now be coming in May 2026. This was announced by Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, who was quite frank about the decision and why it was the right move for both the company and the creative team behind GTA 6.
In an interview with IGN, Zelnick said that while the delay wasn’t ideal, it was necessary. He said the shift became clear as the team progressed deeper into development. “As we get closer to completion of a title that’s seeking perfection, the needs or lack thereof for continued polish become clear,” he said. According to Zelnick, Rockstar needed “a small amount of incremental time” to fully realize its vision, and he gave his full support.
To fans exasperated by delays, Zelnick empathizes. “Delays pain me-how could they not?” he confessed. However, he pointed out that the end product is worth waiting for. Developers, he said, are important to support when a top-level game is sought after. “The most important thing to do is to support your teams in their search for perfection.”
This is hardly the first time Rockstar has decided to push a high-profile release to guarantee quality. Other titles from their stable, such as GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, were similarly delayed but went on to be released to great reviews, polish, and depth. Given the established reputation of Rockstar in releasing immersive, richly detailed worlds, there is some reassurance that this latest delay is not all about timelines but about getting it right.
Zelnick stopped short of promising that there won’t be any further changes, but he expressed confidence in the new May 2026 release window. “I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we’ve been very good about reaching it,” he said.
For now, though, they will be in for a little bit of a wait. The silver lining is that Rockstar isn’t cutting corners; they’re trying to create something worth the hype-a true next-gen Grand Theft Auto experience.
With GTA 6 expected to be one of the biggest game releases of the decade, and now news of it being delayed, expectations are sky-high. While the road to release just got a little longer, it seems Rockstar and Take-Two are betting that the wait will be worth it.
Ultimately, it’s not about launching the game; it’s about launching the game. And if that requires a bit more time to achieve that level, then most fans will agree: it’s better to wait than to wish they had.
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