Complete timeline of GTA 6 delays and Rockstar's responses

The GTA 6 delays have now made the wait for the next major open-world game from Rockstar Games an amazing thirteen years. This count starts from when GTA V first came out in 2013. The thrill after the first look at the game in 2023 has gradually changed and has become a repeating pattern of hopeful expectation mixed with feelings of disappointment and impatience.

Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, have made an official statement that GTA VI is now scheduled to come out on November 19, 2026.

Note: Parts of this article are subjective and based on the author's views.

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Why GTA 6 delays keep happening

The latest announcement pushes the release to late 2026, six months beyond the previously revised window. They updated it across all of their official channels.

Glimpse from GTA VI trailer 2 (Image via Rockstar Games)

Originally set for Fall 2025, Take-Two pushed it first to May 2026, and now again to November 2026. Rockstar’s statement, posted on X, reads:

“We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realise has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve.”

The studio’s philosophy hasn’t changed since GTA V: quality over deadlines. And if history is any indicator, they’ll take all the time they need to make sure the game launches in the best possible state.

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Full timeline of GTA 6 delays

To understand how we got here, here’s a breakdown of the entire GTA 6 delays timeline so far:

• December 2023 (Game revealed + initial release window): Rockstar finally unveiled GTA VI with its first trailer and confirmed a Fall 2025 release window.
• May 2, 2025 (First delay announced): Take-Two Interactive revealed that the game’s release had been pushed from Fall 2025 to May 2026, citing the need for additional development and testing.
• November 6, 2025 (Second delay announced): Rockstar and Take-Two confirmed another postponement, moving the release to November 19, 2026. The reason they stated was that they needed more months for final polish and refinement.

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Rockstar’s approach to delays

For Rockstar, delays become part of the studio’s DNA. Their track record shows that these postponements often lead to incredible results. GTA V, after multiple delays, became one of the most successful entertainment products ever made, generating over $8 billion in revenue to date.

That same philosophy is driving GTA 6 delays. Rockstar’s brand is built on precision, and every animation, mission flow, and story beat must meet an incredibly high bar.

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Why GTA 6 delays could actually be a good thing

While the extra waiting time has tested everyone’s patience, there’s a good reason to think it’ll pay off. GTA 6 could once again redefine gaming standards, just like GTA V did back in 2013.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick called GTA 6 a generational release that will set new benchmarks for entertainment. The longer window likely gives Rockstar more space to:

• Fine-tune the game’s vast open world.
• Better AI systems for more dynamic gameplay.
• Will provide a smooth simultaneous launch across next-gen consoles.

For players, that means fewer bugs, smoother performance, and the kind of quality detail Rockstar is famous for.

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If this article is to your liking, you can check other GTA content below:

• Should the GTA 6 protagonists be anti-heroes?
• Which version of GTA 4 is the best in 2025?
• 5 best GTA Online DLCs ever released, ranked

Edited by Rishi Pallav