Rockstar Games Delays GTA 6 to May 26, 2026, Citing Need for More Development Time

Rockstar Games has officially announced that Grand Theft Auto VI will launch on May 26, 2026, marking a delay from its expected 2025 release window. The highly anticipated sequel to GTA V—one of the best-selling games of all time—will arrive nearly 13 years after its predecessor.

In a statement released today, Rockstar acknowledged the disappointment many fans may feel about the delay:

"We are very sorry that this is later than you expected... We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve."

While the developer didn't specify the exact reasons behind the delay, the message points to a commitment to polish and ambition. The company emphasised that it wants to "exceed your expectations" and that the support and excitement from fans has been "truly humbling."

While frustrating for fans eager to return to the chaos and storytelling of the GTA universe, the delay is not entirely unexpected. Massive titles like GTA VI often face shifting timelines due to their scale and complexity, especially in an era where player expectations for open-world depth, visual fidelity, and narrative are sky-high.

Rockstar released a teaser trailer in December 2023, confirming the game's return to Vice City and introducing new protagonists, triggering a wave of hype and speculation. Since then, however, updates have been sparse, and today's announcement clarifies why.

This delay now sets up GTA VI as one of the most significant releases of 2026—both in terms of cultural impact and industry expectations. Given Rockstar's track record, fans can likely expect an experience that pushes boundaries, but they'll have to wait a bit longer to see it realised.

No further details were shared today, but Rockstar closed their message by promising more updates soon. With over a year until launch, fans can expect a slow but steady rollout of new information, trailers, and possibly gameplay previews.

Until then, patience remains the name of the game.