GTA 6 Release Pushed to 2026, Rockstar Apologizes for Delay
Rockstar Games has officially announced that the long-awaited next installment of its Grand Theft Auto series, GTA VI, will now release on May 26, 2026—several months later than initially promised. Fans were previously told the game would arrive in fall 2025.
In a statement on Friday, Rockstar expressed regret over the delay, saying, “We’re sorry to bring the game to you later than expected. The excitement and passion surrounding GTA VI has been an incredible inspiration for our entire team. We truly appreciate your patience and support as we finish this project.”
Rockstar emphasized that the additional time is necessary to meet their high standards: “We always aim to deliver beyond your expectations. With GTA VI, we are taking extra time to ensure the best possible quality — we hope you understand.”
GTA VI marks the first major release in the franchise since GTA V launched in 2013, a game that has since become one of the most successful live-service games worldwide, selling over 200 million copies and generating more than $8 billion in revenue.
The upcoming game features Lucia, the series’ first female protagonist, and is set in Vice City — a fictional location inspired by Miami, familiar to players from 2002’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
While Rockstar has not yet revealed the game’s pricing, parent company Take-Two Interactive had long assured investors and fans that the release was planned for 2025. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told Variety in February, “We’ve set a relatively narrow release window for GTA VI, and we believe it’s the right timeline.”