The unparalleled hype and build-up to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 has made it the most anticipated video game launch of all time. The first trailer was released by Rockstar Games in December 2023, announcing a 2025 release window, but since then, fans have been waiting for a confirmed release date from the famed developer and more storyline details.
The lack of regular updates around the game’s development has led to unprecedented leaks, along with unmatched hype on social media, and rumours have swirled around an imminent second trailer.
The long-awaited confirmation came on 2nd May 2025, with Rockstar announcing a delay and that GTA 6 is now set for release on 26th May 2026.
GTA 6: Now Set For a May 2026 Release
On 2nd May 2025, Rockstar took to social media to announce that GTA 6 has been delayed, but gave a firm release date of 26th May 2026 with the following message:
“Hi everyone,
Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026.
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.
We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.
Sincerely,
Rockstar Games”
This was announced ahead of the Take-Two earnings call, as predicted, which will give the parent company the chance to talk openly about the hotly-anticipated release.
GTA 6’s Release Window
The first GTA 6 trailer from Rockstar — released a day early after dramatically being leaked — ended with the message: “GTA 6: coming 2025”. Since then, fans have set the Internet ablaze with theories over gameplay as well as when the specific release date will be announced.
In 2024, Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two, indicated that the game was on schedule for launch in Q3/Q4 2025. This gave a release window from July to December, but as the year marched on there were no other official updates from Rockstar.
Fans’ worst fears were confirmed on 2nd May 2025, when Rockstar confirmed a delay along with a firm release date of 26th May 2026.
Image Credit: Rockstar Games
Why Was GTA 6 Delayed?
The relative silence from Rockstar meant that social media soothsayers gained a lot of traction in their claims, from gameplay details to a delay being announced. The latter has now sadly come true, with Rockstar indicating that more time is needed to ensure that the game is of the same standard that players have become accustomed to.
At this stage, it is likely to be a case of polishing gameplay and eliminating any bugs. Motion capture and voice acting work is almost certainly complete, but the exact number of the story mode missions may well be being trimmed by the studio to ensure that the flow is perfect.
All recent Rockstar releases have followed a similar pattern of multiple gameplay trailers ahead of launch, so players can look forward to getting to know more about the State of Leonida ahead of launch.
Mark Your Calendar: Take-Two Earnings Call
Now that a GTA 6 delay has been confirmed, the upcoming earnings call of Take-Two could be very interesting.
Taking place on 15th May, this will discuss the financial performance of the company for the 2025 fiscal year, but the hotly anticipated GTA 6 launch will clearly be the elephant in the room and they are likely to at least comment on the status of the game.
Image Credit: Rockstar Games
GTA 6 Marketing, Consoles and Online Play
As mentioned, GTA 6 has been eagerly awaited by fans of the series since its hugely successful predecessor released in 2013.
That hype, combined with the power of social media, means that this is going to be a title that markets itself — the game could be announced with a week’s warning and still sell millions.
Indeed, Take-Two’s CEO Strauss Zelnick recently commented that the marketing campaign will begin “relatively close to the release window”.
In terms of consoles, GTA 6 is a current-gen game from Rockstar, meaning that the initial release will be available for both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It is likely that a PC release will follow, perhaps a year later.
Similarly, when GTA 6 does finally release it is likely to start with story mode, and online play will follow weeks or months later; this was the case in GTA 5 and ensured that the servers were prepared for the huge influx of players.
Is GTA 6 Definitely Coming in May 2026?
The announcement that GTA VI has been delayed to 26th May 2026 is clearly disappointing news for players, but on a positive note it is good to have a firm date. Still, the statement was carefully worded to say that the title is “now set to release” on that date. The fact that Rockstar Games has given a specific date, as well as a year to complete the game, means that they are very confident that this is the final release date of GTA 6
Marketing for the game is certain to ramp up now that there is a clear date for players to get their hands on the title. This will mean that we can expect a second gameplay trailer in the not too distant future, as well as more story details around the two playable characters, Lucia and – allegedly – Jason.
We will be updating this page as more details come to light, but for now, fans of the franchise can look forward to 26th May 2026 for the release of GTA 6.