Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games, recently addressed the delay of Grand Theft Auto 6, emphasizing that the extra time will be a worthwhile investment. The game has been in development for at least five years and is now scheduled for release on May 26, 2026. This update sheds light on the reasoning behind the postponement and the company’s confidence in meeting the new deadline.
Although many assumed that GTA 6 entered full production after the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick clarified that serious development ramped up around 2020, following the success of Red Dead Redemption 2. He described GTA 6 as “the most expected entertainment property of all time,” highlighting the ambition behind the project.
Regarding the delay from 2025 to 2026, Zelnick said, “I believe affording Rockstar additional time for such a innovative project is a worthy investment.” He added that the game’s ambition and complexity surpass any previous Rockstar title, and the team is preparing to deliver an experience that will exceed player expectations.
In a separate interview with IGN, Zelnick mentioned that as the release date approached, it became clear that more polish was needed. He expressed confidence that there will be no further delays, noting, “Historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we’ve been very good about reaching it.” He supported giving Rockstar the time to realize their creative vision without limitations.
Last week, Rockstar surprised fans by releasing the second GTA 6 trailer, which reportedly garnered over 475 million views across platforms on its first day. The trailer, captured on PS5 hardware, features a mix of gameplay and cutscenes and introduces the game’s protagonists, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.
Following the trailer, Rockstar updated the official GTA 6 website with detailed biographies of the main characters and other information, giving fans a closer look at the story and setting.
What do you think about the delay and the new release date? Are you looking forward to GTA 6’s arrival in 2026? Share your thoughts in the comments below.