“We are highly confident with [Fall 2025 release date] timing,” is what Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said regarding Grand Theft Auto 6 launch date. However, you might have to wait a little longer before you can start exploring Vice City in high-definition. According to a report — claimed to be from across two studios, no less — GTA 6 might be delayed until 2026.
This rumor was reported by Liam from the popular GTA-oriented news site, GTABase.com. Their sources who are familiar with the project claimed that GTA 6 has been “internally delayed by Rockstar Games” itself. The report suggests that the console release is now set for an “early to mid-2026” release window. Meanwhile, the PC version will be pushed even further, to “12-18 months” after the game’s debut on PlayStation and Xbox.
It is not known what caused the 2026 delay in GTA 6 release. Rockstar Games have yet to comment on this rumor.
Understandably, this news comes as a surprise to many fans who have been eagerly waiting for the next installment in the critically acclaimed series. After all, Take-Two and Rockstar Games were confident they would launch GTA 6 in Fall 2025 without any delay.
But on the other hand, this will give ample time for the development team to polish the game even further. After all, in an interview with CNBC, Zelnick said that Rockstar always “seeks perfection” in delivering “experiences no one’s seen before.” The team might also be tweaking or removing content after recent high-budgeted live service flops such as Concord.
This is also not the first time Rockstar delayed the launch of its open-world game. Previously, the Red Dead Redemption 2 release was also pushed back by a year, from the initial Fall 2017 to October 2018. Another Fall launch window that fell behind, who would’ve thought?
While the gaming community awaits official confirmation, the prospect of the release delay to 2026 has not dampened the enthusiasm for GTA 6. Until then, we will be keeping a close eye on any official announcements from Rockstar Games and report them to you. For now, check out our complete breakdown of the first trailer to tide you over.
