Take-Two Postpones ‘GTA VI’ Release to May 2026

On Friday, Take-Two Interactive announced that the release of “Grand Theft Auto VI” has been delayed until May 26, 2026. This news has heightened the anticipation surrounding one of the most eagerly awaited games in the history of video gaming and caused the company’s shares to drop by 8% during early trading.

Originally expected in the fall of 2025, this title is a key asset for Take-Two, contributing substantially to its revenue and player engagement. Expectations for the game’s success have been incorporated into Wall Street forecasts for months.

Fans have been looking forward to this game for over ten years, with analysts predicting it will be a blockbuster. The last installment, “Grand Theft Auto V,” released in 2013, has sold more than 200 million copies, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling video games of all time.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed support for Rockstar Games, emphasizing the importance of allowing more time to achieve their creative vision for “Grand Theft Auto VI,” which is anticipated to be an innovative entertainment phenomenon.

Delays have become increasingly common in the gaming industry, as developers face rising production costs and pressure to launch polished products.

The new timeline pushes “GTA VI” beyond Take-Two’s fiscal 2026 window and into 2027, likely leading to revised revenue expectations for the upcoming fiscal year. However, the company remains optimistic, reiterating its forecast for continued growth in net bookings for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Investors are looking forward to more information during Take-Two’s fourth-quarter earnings report on May 15.

In spite of the delay, Take-Two has several major titles on the horizon for the next fiscal year, including “Borderlands 4” and “Mafia: The Old Country,” which are also highly anticipated.

“Given that Take-Two reaffirmed expectations for record levels of net bookings in both FY’26 and FY’27, we believe this alleviates some concerns about potential sales overlaps in FY’26,” noted DA Davidson & Co analyst Wyatt Swanson.

In December 2023, Rockstar Games released the first trailer for “GTA VI,” confirming a return to Vice City—its fictional representation of Miami—and introducing Lucia, a first for the franchise as its leading female character. The teaser depicted a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde story and garnered over 100 million views within a single day.

Social media reactions to the delay were mixed, with some users expressing frustration over the wait while others welcomed the decision for additional refinement.

This delay will also have repercussions for the broader industry, as “GTA VI” was forecasted to be a major driver for growth, particularly in a climate where U.S. tariffs have increased gaming console prices and led to a decline in consumer spending.