GTA VI Delayed to May 2026, Extending Wait for Gaming’s Most Anticipated Title

The wait for Grand Theft Auto VI just got even longer. Take-Two Interactive announced on Friday that the game’s release has been pushed back to May 2026, nearly a year later than its original Fall 2025 target. The delay immediately rattled investors, sending Take-Two shares down 8% in early trading.

Developed by Rockstar Games, GTA VI is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited video game releases in history. Fans have been waiting over a decade for the next installment in the franchise. Its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, launched back in 2013 and went on to sell more than 200 million copies, cementing its place among the best-selling games of all time.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said the company supports Rockstar’s decision to take extra time, emphasizing that the studio is committed to delivering a “groundbreaking blockbuster entertainment experience.”

Delays like this have become more common in the gaming world, as studios face increasing demands for high-quality, bug-free launches—and skyrocketing development costs.

The new release window also pushes GTA VI outside of Take-Two’s fiscal 2026 projections, landing instead in fiscal 2027. While this shift could dampen short-term financial expectations, the company still expects sequential growth in net bookings across both fiscal years.

Even with GTA VI delayed, Take-Two has a few major titles in the pipeline for the next year, including:

• Borderlands 4
• Mafia: The Old Country

Both are anticipated to drive strong engagement and sales. Analysts, such as D.A. Davidson’s Wyatt Swanson, suggest the company’s overall outlook remains strong, noting that Take-Two has reaffirmed expectations for record-level net bookings in both FY 2026 and FY 2027.

Rockstar gave fans a first look at GTA VI back in December 2023 with a trailer that exploded online—over 100 million views in 24 hours. The game returns to Vice City, a fictional Miami-inspired setting, and introduces Lucia, the series’ first-ever female protagonist. The teaser hinted at a high-stakes, modern-day Bonnie-and-Clyde storyline.

Unsurprisingly, the delay sparked mixed reactions. While some fans expressed frustration over the extended wait, others welcomed the news, hoping the added time results in a more polished final product.

The delay may also have broader implications. GTA VI was expected to be a major growth driver for the gaming sector, especially at a time when U.S. tariffs have pushed up console prices and softened consumer spending.

More details on Take-Two’s updated outlook are expected when the company releases its fourth-quarter earnings report on May 15.