Grand Theft Auto 6 release postponed to November 2026

It is one of the most anticipated game releases of all time. The sequel from developer Rockstar Games was originally scheduled for release in May 2026.

sarah

Nov 7, 2025 - 20:12

Grand Theft Auto 6 release postponed to November 2026

It is one of the most anticipated game releases of all time. The sequel from developer Rockstar Games was originally scheduled for release in May 2026.

It had already been delayed once before, from autumn 2025.

But in a statement on Thursday, Rockstar said it needed a few more months to complete the game with the level of polish that fans expect and deserve.

The latest game in the series, GTA 5, was released in 2013 and is the second best-selling game of all time.

Despite being 12 years old, it remains hugely popular with fans thanks to its online mode.

In its statement, Rockstar said it "apologized" for adding to the long wait and thanked fans for their patience.

They said they were "very excited" for players to experience the game's setting of Leonida – a fictional American state based on Florida – and a modern-day version of Vice City, inspired by Miami.

As always, the GTA news generated a mixed reaction of anger, jokes, and acceptance on social media.

Streamer IShowSpeed gave his usual over-the-top reaction to the news during one of his online broadcasts.

He said: "I'm going to be 50 years old before this game comes out."

"I could have kids, I could have a wife."

Others were more understanding, saying they would rather the developers take their time than release an unfinished game in a hurry.

The announcement comes after Rockstar laid off 31 employees from its UK studios on October 30.

Members held rallies outside the company's offices in Edinburgh and London on Thursday. Rockstar is known for delaying its games and has an image of being a perfectionist; its previous major release, Red Dead Redemption 2, was delayed by almost a year from its original release date.

The increasing demands from players for complexity and scope, coupled with rising development costs, mean that publishers are less willing to take risks on unfinished products.

When it finally arrives, GTA 6 is likely to be one of the most expensive video games ever made, but it's also expected to break records with its launch sales.

Whether it lives up to expectations remains to be seen.