While the release of GTA 6 will undoubtedly shake up the video game industry, its postponement will have a significant impact on the ecosystem. Consequences for players and manufacturers alike, but also for publishers and shareholders.
GTA 6 Postponement: Consequences at Every Level of the Video Game Industry
Rockstar has decided to postpone GTA VI to May 26, 2026. An announcement that has caused a stir in the media and has had consequences for the video game industry at every level. Firstly, for the public, who were undoubtedly very disappointed to have to wait a year before being able to walk the streets of Vice City, but also internally for Take-Two shareholders who did not appreciate the decision and its impact on their finances. Manufacturers too, who were no doubt hoping to take advantage of the game's release before the end of the year to sell their consoles during the Christmas period. Conversely, other publishers will finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief and reveal the release date of their games now that the ogre's release date has been set.
Disappointed players
Players were the first to be disappointed by Rockstar's decision. Having been waiting for a successor to GTA 5 for many years (remember that the game was released in 2013, now twelve years ago), the immense fanbase will not have its software for the Christmas holidays. After a first trailer unveiled in December 2023, and Rockstar's intention to release its hit in 2025, fans finally thought they could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Mentally, a good number of them even prepared themselves to step into the shoes of Jason and Lucia this year. Enough to generate a certain hype, which was bound to get carried away as the months of the year went by.
Rockstar's media release will undoubtedly leave a bitter taste for many gamers. But those who see the glass half full can instead be satisfied with such a decision from a studio, eager to avoid a new Cyberpunk 2077 episode. Also, this delay will be an opportunity to finish your games buried deep in your library, but also to embark on an adventure that you put aside this year in order to devote all your time to a GTA 6 which promises to be very time-consuming.
The end of publisher lethargy
The lack of set dates for several games expected this year will have escaped no one. Faced with such a behemoth as GTA 6 and its colossal potential sales figures, no one - not even the biggest publishers - wants to tackle it (we have dedicated a whole long explanatory article to it). A certain ambient lethargy that will finally be able to give way to risk-taking. Concretely, now that the fall and winter release windows are clear,EA, Microsoft, Xbox Games, and Sony will finally be able to deploy their respective titles. We're waiting for the exact dates for Ghost of Yotei (Sucker Punch), EA Sport FC 26 (Electronic Arts), Ninja Gaiden 4 (Microsoft), Hell is Us (Nacon), Hollow Knight Silksong (Team Cherry), and Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo) soon.
Nebulously announced within a more or less wide window, these games should finally take shape this year. This is really good news for players waiting for releases, and who will soon be able to know which game(s) to put under their Christmas tree. But also for their publishers, whose sales figures should not be cannibalized by those of GTA VI. However, for those who were counting on spring 2026, it's a cold shower. It will then be necessary to completely revise their release schedule: bring forward the release of their game, or on the contrary, delay it. In both cases, the smallest structures, and those already weakened by the current economic context, could encounter major financial difficulties.
No Christmas under the sign of GTA 6 for manufacturers
Conversely, the two major manufacturers, Sony and Xbox, are already gnashing their teeth. Taking advantage of the release of GTA VI for the Christmas holidays represented a windfall: that of selling millions of consoles to accompany players in their adventure in Vice City. Players who were already planning to reserve their bundle and were only waiting for the release of such a game to finally decide to buy a PS5 or an Xbox Series X.
Potentially very lucrative commercial operations nipped in the bud. As a result, fewer PS5 and Xbox Series will be sold (in principle) during the financial year, thus slowing growth. This could cause significant damage to the industry's performance. Two consoles that could really use a boost to their numbers during this crucial period.
A blow to shareholders
The announcement of the postponement of GTA VI caused Take-Two's stock price to drop by -9.15% according to the Financial Times. A big disappointment for shareholders and investors who were hoping to increase their sales figures for the current financial year, before publishing their results for the 2024-2025 fiscal year on May 15. To allay fears, CEO Strauss Zelnick issued a statement:
We fully support Rockstar Games' decision to allow them the time to fulfill their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be a groundbreaking, blockbuster experience that will exceed our audience's expectations. While we take this delay very seriously and fully appreciate the global anticipation for GTA VI, we will pursue nothing less than excellence. As we continue to release our phenomenal pipeline, we expect to deliver a multi-year period of growth."
The publisher will nevertheless be able to reassure itself with fairly stable titles in terms of sales, such as NBA 2K26 and WWE 2K26. We will also take a look at Borderlands 4 expected on September 12.
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