GTA 6 has been delayed before from its original 2025 target, and as some fans anticipated (and feared), Rockstar Games has confirmed a second postponement, pushing the blockbuster beyond its May 2026 window. The news dropped alongside Take-Two Interactive’s quarterly earnings results on Thursday.
In a letter to shareholders, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick did not give a reason for the second delay but stated that Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on November 19, 2026, adding, “we remain both excited and confident they will deliver an unrivalled blockbuster entertainment experience.” He emphasized the studio’s commitment to quality.
“In this instance, of course, we’re seeking to release the most extraordinary title anyone’s ever seen in the history of entertainment,” Zelnick said in an interview with Variety ahead of the announcement Thursday. “That’s a tall order. And in this instance, Rockstar Games believes a limited amount of additional time is required for polish to support that view.”
Take-Two explicitly noted that the recent termination of approximately 30–40 U.K.-based Rockstar employees is unrelated to the GTA 6 delay. A U.K. union had alleged the layoffs constituted a “union-busting” effort, but Rockstar countered in a Wednesday statement that the affected staff had violated company policy by sharing confidential information in public forums. The company stressed that the dismissals were “in no way related to people’s right to join a union or engage in union activities.” A Take-Two spokesperson reiterated Thursday that the two issues are “entirely separate.”
Now in development for over a decade, GTA 6 was initially slated for fall 2025 before being pushed to May 26, 2026, earlier this year. Recent public statements from Take-Two had indicated confidence in meeting that target until Thursday’s update.
Rockstar addressed the community directly in a statement posted to X: “Hi everyone, Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026. We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve. We want to thank you again for your patience and support. While the wait is a little longer, we are incredibly excited for players to experience the sprawling state of Leonida and a return to modern day Vice City. Sincerely, Rockstar Games.”
In addition to the GTA 6 adjustment, Take-Two updated its pipeline to include the BioShock next iteration from 2K and Top Goal from Zynga, both listed with “TBA” launch windows.
GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Here's the latest trailer for GTA 6:
