Grand Theft Auto VI Delayed Again – Now Set for November 2026
Journey Tribune – Fans of Grand Theft Auto VI will have to wait a little longer. Publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. announced Thursday that the highly anticipated game will now launch in November 2026, marking the second major delay in its release schedule.
The long-awaited sequel to Grand Theft Auto V was originally planned for fall 2025, then postponed to May 2026, and has now been pushed back another six months to November 19, 2026.
According to Take-Two, the delay will give the game’s developer, Rockstar Games, more time to ensure that the title meets its famously high standards of polish and performance.
“We’re giving the Rockstar Games team additional time to finish the game with the level of quality players expect and deserve,” the company said in a statement released alongside its quarterly earnings report.
Why the Delay Matters
While release delays are nothing new in the gaming industry, this one hits particularly hard given Grand Theft Auto VI’s enormous hype. It’s not just another game — it’s one of the most anticipated entertainment releases of the decade.
The series’ previous entry, Grand Theft Auto V, became a global phenomenon after its 2013 debut, selling over 220 million copies and becoming the second-best-selling video game in history, only behind Minecraft. With nearly a decade of rumors and leaks building anticipation, fans had hoped GTA VI would finally arrive in 2025.
Instead, Rockstar is taking its time — a decision that reflects both the complexity of modern game development and the studio’s perfectionist approach.
Market Reaction: Take-Two Shares Slide
Investors didn’t take the news lightly. Shares of Take-Two Interactive fell around 7% in extended trading Thursday evening following the announcement.
The drop came despite better-than-expected financial results for the quarter ending September 30. Take-Two reported bookings of $1.96 billion, surpassing analyst estimates of $1.72 billion, and adjusted earnings of $1.46 per share, beating projections of 94 cents.
Still, the cost of finishing Grand Theft Auto VI continues to rise as development stretches into yet another year. With production expenses and marketing budgets mounting, investors are growing anxious — though CEO Strauss Zelnick urged patience.
“It’s always painful when we move a date,” Zelnick told investors. “But we’ve never regretted it in retrospect.”
Zelnick emphasized that releasing an unfinished game would be far more damaging in the long run, noting that competitors who have rushed products in the past have “done so at their peril.”
Rockstar’s Pursuit of Perfection
Rockstar Games has built its reputation on delivering groundbreaking open-world experiences, from Red Dead Redemption 2 to Grand Theft Auto V. The company is known for its long development cycles, massive production budgets, and meticulous attention to detail.
Insiders say that GTA VI will be set in a fictionalized version of Miami, likely inspired by the series’ fan-favorite Vice City. Players will reportedly control two main protagonists — a male and a female character — in a story that explores modern crime and culture.
While details remain officially under wraps, analysts expect GTA VI to become one of the best-selling games in history, potentially generating billions in revenue for Take-Two.
Controversy Behind the Scenes
The latest delay also comes amid internal tension at Rockstar. Just last week, the company reportedly fired more than 30 employees, which drew criticism from labor organizations in the United Kingdom.
Union groups accused Rockstar of attempting to suppress organizing efforts. The studio, however, denied the allegations, claiming that the dismissals were related to leaks of confidential information, not union activity.
Rockstar told Bloomberg that it remains committed to maintaining confidentiality around GTA VI, particularly given the enormous leaks that have previously disrupted the game’s development cycle.
What’s Next for Fans
While the delay is disappointing, many gamers see it as a good sign. Historically, Rockstar’s postponed releases — such as Red Dead Redemption 2 — have ultimately delivered industry-defining quality.
The company is now expected to ramp up its marketing campaign in 2026, with new trailers and gameplay footage likely arriving in the first half of the year.
Despite the setback, Grand Theft Auto VI remains poised to dominate the global gaming scene whenever it arrives. As CEO, Strauss Zelnick put it:
“We’d rather take the time to make something truly great than rush to meet a date.”
For fans who have waited more than a decade for a new GTA, that philosophy might be frustrating — but it could also be the reason the next installment becomes a masterpiece.
