GTA 6 release date pushed back to 2026, Rockstar “sorry” for delay

If you spend any time on the internet, you’ve likely seen the “we got (insert noun here) before GTA 6” comment used ad nauseam. Expect to see the popular meme format used a lot more over the next 12 months; developer Rockstar Games has delayed GTA 6 until 2026.

After the game’s first trailer debuted in 2023, developer Rockstar Games has quietly toiled away without much in the way of updates. Unless you count the seemingly endless content updates for GTA Online, which continues to print money for parent company Take-Two Interactive.

With little fanfare over the weekend, a news post on Rockstar’s website announced that GTA 6 has a release date of 26 May 2026. Even though the upcoming Grand Theft Auto entry didn’t have a set release date, it’s still considered a delay from the fall (or spring here) 2025 launch window originally communicated.

“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected,” the news post read. “The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team.”

Fans now have to wait longer for one of the most-anticipated games in recent history. More than a year away, the GTA 6 release date might be disappointing to fans but delays are common in the games industry. Its wildly successful predecessor, GTA 5, came out four months later than expected, while Red Dead Redemption 2 missed its initial 2017 window, launching in October 2018 instead.

“With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception,” Rockstar’s post continued. “We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”

Take-Two Interactive also got on the front foot, with Strauss Zelnick, the company’s chairman and CEO, addressing investors.

“We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realise their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be a groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience that exceeds audience expectations.”

There’s also plenty of talk about GTA 6 joining the recent trend of expensive video games. Better start saving now.

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