Grand Theft Auto VI is delayed again

The wait for Grand Theft Auto VI just got longer. Fans eager to return to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City will have to exercise a bit more patience, as Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, have announced yet another delay for the highly anticipated title. Originally scheduled for release in May 2026, the next chapter in the blockbuster franchise is now set to arrive on November 19, 2026.

The news broke through Rockstar Games’ official social media accounts, where the studio issued a brief but apologetic message to its global fanbase. “Hi everyone, Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026,” the statement read. “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.”

While delays are hardly new in the gaming industry, this marks the second time Rockstar has postponed GTA VI’s release. The title was first pushed from an unspecified 2025 launch window to May 2026, with the company explaining that more development time was needed to ensure the game not only met but exceeded expectations. Now, six more months have been added to the timeline — a decision that, while disappointing for fans, reflects Rockstar’s longstanding reputation for prioritizing quality over deadlines.

So far, only two official trailers have been released, offering glimpses of what’s shaping up to be one of the most ambitious projects in gaming history. The footage showcases a return to the iconic Vice City setting — a vibrant, Miami-inspired metropolis — along with a bold new narrative structure featuring two protagonists. The trailers have already fueled countless discussions and fan theories, from storylines and gameplay mechanics to technical innovations and the scale of the open world.

Despite the excitement, the lack of concrete updates has left fans speculating about the reasons behind the delay. Rockstar has not provided detailed information, but industry analysts suggest the studio may be fine-tuning performance across next-generation consoles, optimizing its massive world, and perfecting gameplay systems designed to push the boundaries of the genre.

Take-Two Interactive’s chairman and CEO, Strauss Zelnick, offered a brief comment on the situation during the company’s latest financial results announcement. “We expect to achieve record levels of Net Bookings in Fiscal 2027, which will establish a new baseline for our business and set us on a path of enhanced profitability,” Zelnick said. His statement implies confidence that the delayed release will ultimately pay off, ensuring GTA VI launches at the peak of both technical and commercial readiness.

Currently, Grand Theft Auto VI is confirmed for release exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. The publisher remains tight-lipped about a potential PC version, a move consistent with Rockstar’s past strategy — previous entries in the series, including Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, were also console-first releases that arrived on PC months or even years later.