The long wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) seems to have to be extended again. If you were hoping to explore Leonida in the near future, be prepared to keep your patience longer. Rockstar Games has just officially announced a delay in its release schedule, shifting the expectations of gamers around the world.
GTA 6's New Release Date and Reasons for the Delay
Through its official announcement, Rockstar Games set a new launch date for GTA 6 at November 19, 2026. This means a time shift of about six months from the previous schedule of May 26, 2026.
This delay marks the second time the game has seen a schedule change, having previously only been given an unspecified release window of 2025.
In a statement, Rockstar explained, “We apologize for having to increase the wait time, which we realize is already very long. However, these extra few months will allow us to complete the game with the level of quality and polish that you expect and deserve.”
They also added, “We want to thank you once again for your patience and support. Although the wait has become a little longer, we are excited for players to experience the vastness of the state of Leonida and return to the modern-day Vice City.”
Publisher's Confidence Amid GTA 6 Delays
News of the delay came alongside publisher Take-Two Interactive's quarterly financial report.
Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two, told IGN that he was “very confident about the new date” and emphasized that GTA 6 would not be delayed again.
However, it should be noted that he had made similar comments with the same level of confidence when the May 2026 release date was announced earlier. Fans are certainly hoping that the confidence this time will come true.
Fan Speculation and Internal Rockstar Issues
A few days before the announcement, the GTA 6 fan community was abuzz with data updates on the game's page on the PlayStation Store. This sparked widespread speculation that a third trailer would be released soon.
However, those hopes didn't materialize and were instead replaced by news of a delay. It is possible that the update was simply related to the announcement that the GTA+ subscription now includes GTA Online.
On the other hand, Rockstar Games is also facing the spotlight regarding internal issues. The company has reportedly fired several union-affiliated employees. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain called the action a “draconian measure to silence the union.”
Instead, Rockstar stated that the employees were fired for leaking “confidential information” and that the firings had nothing to do with union activity. The fired employees have reportedly been protesting outside Rockstar and Take-Two's offices.
Ultimately, the wait for GTA 6 has become longer, with Rockstar's commitment to improving the final quality of the game.
