GTA 6 Faces Another Delay, Now Pushed to Late 2026

Image via Rockstar Games

Rockstar Games has officially pushed the release date of GTA 6 back once further, extending what was already one of the longest waits in gaming history. The studio stated that the highly anticipated open-world sequel will now be released on Thursday, November 19, 2026.

In a statement posted on X, Rockstar recognized fans' dissatisfaction, but stressed that the extra time is necessary to give the kind of improvements the series is known for.

“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,” the studio said. The message also thanked fans for their patience and expressed confidence that the final product will be worth it, highlighting the “sprawling state of Leonida” and the long-awaited return to modern-day Vice City.

The delay was also acknowledged in Take-Two Interactive's most recent financial presentation. CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed the updated release date, saying the business is still "excited and confident" that Rockstar is on schedule to create an entertainment milestone. Zelnick also stated that the publisher expects record financial performance in Fiscal 2027 due to the success of GTA 6 and the "most robust pipeline" in company history.

A Full Year Behind the Original Window

This is the second major delay for GTA 6. The game was originally scheduled for Fall 2025 before being changed to May 26, 2026 earlier this year. With the latest change, fans may now expect a delivery approximately 12 months later than initially intended.

Speaking with The Game Business, Zelnick stated that the team believed in the earlier May release date but eventually determined the conversation better quality standards was more important than rushing the game.

“If a game requires more polish to be the best possible version of itself, then we will give that game more time,” he said. “It’s always painful when we move a date… but we’ve never regretted taking the extra time in retrospect.”

He also implied that competitors who refused to delay unfinished games had published them "at their peril," a subtle reference to recent terrible AAA launches across the industry.

Fans Disappointed, But Hype Remains High

While the new delay has caused unhappiness on social media, anticipation for GTA 6 is higher than ever. With Rockstar promising its most ambitious universe to date, and the community anxious to return to Vice City after two decades, many players prefer to wait than receive a rushed product.

If Rockstar sticks to its revised plan, GTA 6 will be released exactly 13 years after Grand Theft Auto V, the second best-selling game of all time.