📍 New York — Take-Two Interactive has officially delayed the release of Grand Theft Auto VI to 🗓 May 26, 2026, pushing back what is widely considered the most eagerly awaited video game in history. Originally scheduled for a fall 2025 launch, the delay rattled investors and sent Take-Two shares tumbling 📉 8% in early trading on Friday.
GTA 6 is expected to bring some of the iconic locations from Vice City. (Image Source: Insider Gaming)
Developed by Rockstar Games, GTA VI is the next entry in a franchise that has defined open-world gaming for decades. The previous title, GTA V, released in 2013, has sold over 🎯 200 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games of all time.
🗣️ Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said:
“We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be a groundbreaking blockbuster entertainment experience.”
🏙️ A Modern Return to Vice City
The highly anticipated game is set to return to Vice City, Rockstar’s fictionalized version of Miami. A teaser trailer released in December 2023 introduced Lucia, the franchise’s first female lead 👩, and hinted at a modern-day Bonnie-and-Clyde-style narrative. The trailer drew over 📺 100 million views within 24 hours, showing the scale of anticipation.
💼 Impact on Take-Two and the Gaming Industry
The delay shifts GTA VI beyond Take-Two’s fiscal 2026, likely lowering booking expectations for that year. However, the company reaffirmed its strong financial outlook, anticipating 💰 record net bookings in both fiscal 2026 and 2027, supported by upcoming titles like Borderlands 4 and Mafia: The Old Country.
📊 Analyst Wyatt Swanson of D.A. Davidson & Co said:
“Given that Take-Two reiterated expectations of record level net bookings in both FY’26 and FY’27, we think this alleviates some of the potential concerns around sales cannibalization in FY’26.”
🌐 A Wider Industry Ripple
The delay could ripple through the gaming industry, already facing rising development costs, 🕹️ higher console prices due to U.S. tariffs, and more cautious consumer spending. GTA VI had been seen as a potential growth catalyst.
💬 Reactions online were mixed. While many fans expressed 😩 frustration at the longer wait, others welcomed 🛠️ extra development time to ensure a more polished experience — increasingly expected in today’s gaming landscape.
📅 Take-Two will share more during its Q4 earnings call on May 15.