Wasted: Grand Theft Auto VI Is Delayed Until 2026

Rockstar Games says it's delaying the game to "deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve."

Photo by: Rockstar Games

By: Brian Silvestro

May 2, 2025 at 9:25am ET

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Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed. The highly anticipated, open-world, action-adventure game will now release on May 26, 2026. It was originally supposed to come out this year.

Rockstar Games, the studio behind Grand Theft Auto, released a statement apologizing for the delay.

We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game.

With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.

The first and only GTA VI trailer dropped in December 2023, and we haven't heard much about the game since. We know from the trailer it'll take place in the Miami-inspired, fictional Vice City, where Grand Theft Auto III was also based. Gamers will follow Lucia, the series' first female protagonist, as she commits crimes and evades the authorities in a Bonnie-and-Clyde-like plot.

GTA is Rockstar Games' most important property. The series has generated $8.6 billion in revenue, according to the Radio Times. To say a delay is a significant hit to the company's bottom line is a serious understatement.

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Delays like this are common in the gaming industry. Studios like Rockstar often work on tight deadlines and have a reputation for long hours and overworked staff. If you loved the last GTA—with over 210 million copies sold, odds are you did—you probably understand why making a new one is such a big undertaking.

Personally, I'm cool with waiting a bit longer if it means a more complete, better-working game. Only one year, 28 days to go... not that anyone's counting.