As news spreads about the delay of GTA VI to May 26, 2026, the gaming community is buzzing with reactions. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier has provided additional context, indicating that the internal expectations at Rockstar Games never actually matched the earlier projected launch window of Fall 2025.
Posting on his Bluesky account, Schreier shared insight gathered from multiple sources within the studio. According to him, developers at Rockstar had long considered a 2025 release implausible. He cited the vast workload remaining on the project and a notable cultural shift within the company aimed at reducing reliance on excessive overtime.
“Nobody I’ve talked to at Rockstar has believed Fall 2025 was a real window for a very long time now,” Schreier wrote. “Too much work, not enough time, and what appears to be a real desire from management to avoid brutal crunch. GTA VI slipping to 2026 has seemed inevitable for months if not longer.”
This revelation sheds light on Rockstar’s internal development dynamics and supports the broader narrative that the studio is prioritizing quality and work-life balance over aggressive release scheduling. It also aligns with Rockstar’s formal messaging, which emphasized the need for additional development time to meet fan expectations.
Earlier today, Rockstar confirmed the new release date in a message to fans, acknowledging the delay but stating the extra time is essential to achieve the level of polish the franchise demands. The announcement was supported by Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, which remains confident that GTA VI will drive record-breaking performance across Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick echoed this optimism, stating:
“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 that exceeds audience expectations.”
GTA VI was initially set to be released in Fall 2025. The game was first announced in 2024, accompanied by a trailer. However, an early development build of the game had already been leaked before this announcement. Additionally, the official trailer was leaked before its scheduled release, prompting Rockstar Games to release it earlier than planned.
GTA VI will launch exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on May 26, 2026. A PC release date has yet to be announced.
