Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6 was slated to be the biggest release of 2025, expected to dominate gaming discussions and awards. The highly anticipated game promised a return to the iconic Vice City, featuring a Bonnie-and-Clyde style crime narrative that fans eagerly awaited. However, plans changed drastically as delays pushed the release date well beyond the initial target.
Originally teased in late 2023 with a trailer, Grand Theft Auto 6 was set to launch in 2025. Yet, two subsequent announcements shifted the release first to May and then to November 2026. These delays left a notable void in the industry during 2025, as fans had to settle for expansions and re-releases within Rockstar’s existing online titles, including Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online.
Delays and Official Statements
In May, Rockstar confirmed the game would not launch in 2025, establishing May 26, 2026, as the new release date. The company apologized for the delay, emphasizing the importance of delivering a game polished to meet high expectations. “We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game,” Rockstar stated. Later, in November, an additional delay moved the launch to November 19, 2026. Rockstar again cited the need for extra time to meet quality standards, signaling a priority on refinement over rushing to market.
This extended timeline required other game publishers to reconsider their release schedules for 2026. With Grand Theft Auto traditionally dominating the holiday season, competitors such as Call of Duty and Halo will need to plan accordingly. Take-Two Interactive’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick, expressed confidence in the revised date, aiming to quell doubts about potential further delays.
Industry Ripples from GTA 6’s Absence
The absence of Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2025 contributed to industrywide shifts. Market research firm Circana reported a significant 27% year-over-year decline in video game hardware spending during November, marking the lowest November figure since 2005. Physical software sales fell 14%, also reaching historic lows. While these declines partly reflect broader economic pressures like increased hardware costs and waning physical media demand, the missing blockbuster release arguably intensified the downturn.
Despite the lack of GTA 6, the fall 2025 release window remained packed with major titles like Battlefield 6, The Outer Worlds 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Still, the game’s expected blockbuster presence would likely have redirected attention and spending.
Additionally, Rockstar faced internal challenges after the latest delay. Reports surfaced of layoffs affecting approximately 40 employees, with allegations that some were targeted due to their efforts to unionize the company. Former staff described a drop in morale and trust within the studio, underscoring the organizational impact behind the scenes.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s Lost Game of the Year Status
Before the delays became official, industry pundits widely predicted Grand Theft Auto 6 as the prime contender for Game of the Year in 2025. The franchise’s last major installment earned multiple Game of the Year accolades in 2013, setting a precedent for success. However, with the postponements, the 2025 award season belonged instead to the role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which captured multiple honors at prestigious events including The Game Awards and the Golden Joysticks.
The shift left Grand Theft Auto 6 bereft of its anticipated awards campaign, although it has earned back-to-back Most Anticipated Game recognitions at The Game Awards for 2024 and 2025. Industry observers hope the game’s release in late 2026 will avoid further upheavals amid a competitive and potentially crowded holiday slate.
Looking Ahead
Grand Theft Auto 6’s extended development timeline underscores Rockstar Games’ commitment to quality, but it also highlights the challenges of delivering a major AAA title in a shifting marketplace. Fans and industry stakeholders now await the scheduled November 2026 release, hopeful for a launch that lives up to the franchise’s legacy and reshapes the gaming landscape as originally envisioned for 2025.
Read more at: www.polygon.com
