GTA 6 delayed until 2026.

Rockstar Games has officially pushed back Grand Theft Auto 6's release to May 26, 2026, delaying it from its originally planned fall 2025 launch window.

In a public statement, Rockstar expressed regret about the major delay for what's anticipated to be the largest entertainment launch in history.

"We sincerely apologize for this later-than-expected release date," Rockstar stated. "The overwhelming excitement and anticipation for a new Grand Theft Auto title has been incredibly motivating for our team. We deeply appreciate your continued support and patience as we finalize development.

"With every project we undertake, our goal remains to surpass player expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no different. We hope you'll understand this additional time is necessary to deliver the quality experience you deserve.

"We look forward to sharing more updates in the near future."

While Rockstar's announcement confirms GTA 6's new 2026 release window, it included no new visuals or details about the game, meaning fans must continue waiting for the second trailer. Notably absent was any platform confirmation, leading to speculation about potential PC availability alongside PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions at launch.

"There's always development risks when setting release dates, and making absolute promises can be counterproductive," explained Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar parent company Take-Two, during an earlier February interview with IGN about the original 2025 target. "However, we remained confident in our timeline."

In a new investor memo released May 2, Zelnick endorsed the delay decision moving GTA 6 into Take-Two's 2027 fiscal year.

"We fully support Rockstar's decision to extend development to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which aims to be a revolutionary entertainment experience that defies expectations.

"While we take schedule adjustments seriously and recognize the immense global excitement for GTA VI, our commitment to quality remains uncompromising. With our strong upcoming release slate, we anticipate sustained business growth and increased shareholder value."

The GTA 6 delay creates opportunities for several major titles planned for late 2025. Games like Gearbox's Borderlands 4, EA's Battlefield, Bungie's Marathon, and Sony's Ghost of Yotei may now enjoy less competition. Nintendo, preparing to launch its Switch successor, also stands to benefit from the revised schedule.

However, developers who rushed projects to release before GTA 6's original 2025 window may face challenges. Similarly, titles currently targeting May 2026 may need to reconsider their launch strategies given the new competitive landscape.