Rockstar Games announced on April 30, 2025, that the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) will now launch in May 2026, postponing its original late 2025 release. The delay, revealed during a Take-Two Interactive earnings call, aims to ensure “unprecedented quality” for the open-world game, set in a fictional Vice City inspired by Miami.
Rockstar cited the need for additional polishing, with 2,000 developers working on the title, which boasts a $2 billion budget, the largest in gaming history. The game promises a sprawling map, dual protagonists, and 400 hours of content, targeting 100 million sales.
The decision follows industry trends, as 60% of major titles faced delays in 2024 due to complex next-gen development for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. GTA VI’s first trailer, released December 2023, garnered 200 million views, fueling hype, but leaks of 90 minutes of gameplay in 2022 raised security concerns, costing Rockstar $5 million in damages. The delay aligns with Take-Two’s revised $7 billion revenue forecast for 2026, with GTA VI expected to drive 70% of it. Fans, awaiting the sequel since GTA V’s 2013 debut, which sold 195 million copies, face a 13-year gap.
The game’s narrative, centered on a Bonnie-and-Clyde duo, tackles modern themes like social media and crime, with 50% more NPC interactions than GTA V. Rockstar’s 2024 staff expansion to 7,000, including AI specialists, underscores its ambition, but 30% of developers reported burnout, per a 2025 industry survey. The delay has sparked debate over crunch culture, with 80-hour workweeks criticized by unions. Take-Two stock dipped 5% post-announcement, reflecting investor concerns, but analysts predict a 20% surge upon release. The gaming industry, valued at $200 billion, sees GTA VI as a benchmark, with 90% of gamers in a 2025 IGN poll expecting it to redefine standards.