Attention all Grand Theft Auto fans! We've got some good news and some not-so-good news about the much-anticipated release of GTA 6. The good news is we finally have a concrete release date: May 26, 2026. The not-so-good news? That's about six months later than the originally promised 'Fall 2025.' While this delay might be a sigh of relief for many in the video game industry, it's causing a scramble among other developers and publishers who were planning their releases around that time. With numerous undated heavy-hitters now needing to find a new slot, the gaming calendar is in for a shakeup.
It's evident that Grand Theft Auto 6 is poised to be the lynchpin of the video game industry's near future. Any news about its development sends ripples throughout the industry. But what does this six-month delay signify for Rockstar's corporate culture, this year's console market revenue, and the potential impact on the Switch 2?
Last year, the video game industry saw a total revenue of $184.3 billion, marking a slight 0.2% increase from 2023. This figure contradicted predictions of a downturn, bringing some comfort to game manufacturers and publishers. However, the console market saw a 1% drop in revenue, and the consequences are already visible. A decline in console hardware sales, coupled with escalating technology tariffs, has pushed prices up for both Microsoft and Sony. This generation of consoles is in dire need of a game-changer—a definitive console-shifting title like Grand Theft Auto 6.
Research groups are predicting that GTA 6 will rake in $1 billion from pre-orders alone and a staggering $3.2 billion in its first year. To put that into perspective, GTA 5 hit the $1 billion mark in just three days. Could GTA 6 achieve that in a mere 24 hours? According to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, "there's probably never been a more important thing to ever release in the industry." The game's impact could very well shape the industry's growth trajectory for the next decade. There's even talk that it could be the first-ever $100 video game, setting a new benchmark that might inject the growth the industry desperately needs. Yet, it's also possible that GTA 6 is such a colossal outlier that it may not spur broader industry progress.
Back in 2018, Rockstar Games faced a publicity crisis due to reports of 100-hour work weeks and mandatory overtime during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2, alongside similar stories from the development of GTA 4. Since then, the company has reportedly revamped its internal policies, converting contractors to full-time employees and implementing a 'flexitime' policy. However, earlier this year, staff were asked to return to the office five days a week to finalize GTA 6, hinting at the reasons behind the delay. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier confirmed this on BlueSky, noting that his sources at Rockstar mentioned "Too much work, not enough time, and what appears to be a real desire from management to avoid brutal crunch." This delay, while disappointing for fans, is a significant relief for the developers, ensuring that Rockstar can deliver a game that will truly change the video gaming landscape without reverting to harmful old habits.
For publishers, launching a game alongside GTA 6 is like throwing a bucket of water into a tsunami. The Game Business reported on how the nebulous 'Fall 2025' release window affected publishers worldwide. One studio boss likened Rockstar's game to "a huge meteor," while another worried about moving out of 2025 only for Rockstar to do the same. Even EA CEO Andrew Wilson hinted at the looming shadow of GTA 6 in discussions about the new Battlefield's launch timing.
Yet, big releases don't always overshadow their contemporaries. Kepler Interactive's original RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 managed to sell over one million copies in just three days despite launching alongside Bethesda's Oblivion remake. Senior portfolio manager Matt Handrahan dubbed it the industry's Barbenheimer moment. However, such a phenomenon seems unlikely for GTA 6, and no publisher would bank on a 'Grand Theft Fable' moment in 2026.
The new release date of May 26, 2026, is causing a stir among other developers and publishers, many of whom are still planning undated heavy-hitters like Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, EA's new Battlefield title, and Mass Effect's spiritual successor Exodus. While the public might not see these internal shifts, Rockstar's announcement could embolden others to reveal their own plans. But they might want to hold off a bit longer.
It seems highly unlikely that May 26, 2026, will be the final release date for GTA 6. Both GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 saw two delays, with the first to the second quarter of the next year, and the second to the third quarter. GTA 6 is following a similar pattern, moving from Fall 2025 to May 2026, suggesting another delay to October/November 2026 is a reasonable prediction.
An October/November release window seems even more plausible when considering the potential for Microsoft and Sony to bundle GTA 6 with their consoles, boosting holiday sales. Sony sold 6.4 million PlayStation 4s during October - December 2014, more than double the number sold between April and September of that year, largely thanks to the release of GTA 5 on PS4. Rockstar has one shot to get this right—what's six more months after 13 years of waiting?
Surprisingly, Nintendo might be one of the most affected by this delay. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick's pledge of full support for the Switch 2 has led to speculation about a potential GTA 6 launch on the new console. The surprise launch of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy's Definitive Edition on the Nintendo Switch sets a precedent for mature franchises on family-friendly platforms. Although many doubted the Switch's capabilities, modders have shown an in-progress port of GTA 5 running on the Switch. While it's unlikely Nintendo planned for GTA 6 to be part of the Switch 2's first-year success, the strong relationship between Take-Two and Nintendo cannot be overlooked. The Nintendo Switch has hosted an array of generation-defining games, and with Cyberpunk 2077 set to launch on the Switch 2 with its Phantom Liberty expansion, the potential for "miracle" ports is clear.
There's no doubt that a lot is riding on Grand Theft Auto 6. Industry leaders from studio heads to chief analysts believe this game could break the industry's growth stagnation. The global anticipation for a game that's been in development for over a decade is palpable. The teams at Rockstar Games face impossibly high expectations to not only restore the industry's pre-pandemic growth but also to deliver a new kind of video game experience that will set a new standard for developers and publishers. Rockstar has one shot to get this right—what's six more months after 13 years?
