Rockstar Games has officially confirmed the delay of “Grand Theft Auto VI” (GTA 6) to May 26, 2026.
While the game was originally anticipated to release in late 2024 and then later to some time in 2025, no firm launch date had ever been announced. Still, many fans held out hope for a sooner release, despite growing signs that a delay was likely. Rumors of a potential 2026 launch have been circulating for months, but this official announcement has finally put the speculation to rest.
The new release date is expected to shake up the Fall game release calendar, as many developers and publishers had been holding back their plans, waiting to see whether Rockstar would stick to an earlier timeline. With GTA 6 officially off the table for 2025, other big names in gaming are now staking their claims for Fall releases. Recent announcements include “Marathon” on September 23, “Ghost of Yotei” on October 2, and “Borderlands 4” from Rockstar’s own publisher, Take-Two, on September 12, a date that hinted at a GTA 6 delay becoming more likely.
In their statement, Rockstar Games addressed fans directly, saying:
“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game.
With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto 6 is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve. We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.”
While fans were clinging to the possibility of a 2025 release, this news confirms what many already suspected. No additional details were shared by Rockstar today, and a second trailer is now unlikely to arrive until much later in the year. This announcement is also expected to spark a wave of release date reveals from competitors aiming to fill the Fall 2025 gap left by GTA 6.
For now, we’ll have to wait a little longer, trusting that Rockstar’s commitment to quality will make the extra time worth it.
