It's now official: GTA 6 will not be released in 2025, as many had hoped. Rockstar Games has announced a new release date of May 26, 2026. A blow to fans, but a decision that ultimately surprises no one internally?
A delay that doesn't fall from the sky for GTA 6
For several months, rumors have been going in the same direction for GTA 6. Even internally, at Rockstar, no one seemed to seriously believe in a 2025 release. According to journalist Jason Schreier, several developers already saw this delay as inevitable. Too much work. Not enough time. And above all, a deliberate desire to avoid crunch.
This word, which has become infamous in the industry, refers to these periods of development under pressure, with endless hours, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. Rockstar clearly wants to turn the page on this era, especially after the criticism that followed the release of Red Dead Redemption 2. GTA 6 was not supposed to follow the same path.
Better late than sloppy?
For many, this delay of GTA 6 is a good thing. Of course, waiting another year isn't a good thing. But if it allows the teams to work in better conditions, and the game to arrive more finished, then the choice seems logical.
Take-Two, Rockstar's parent company, officially supports this decision. Its CEO even talks about a delay needed to "fully realize the creative vision" of the studio. Words that are intended as much to reassure players as to calm investors.
This change has consequences far beyond Rockstar. By missing 2025, GTA 6 leaves a huge gap in the release schedule. Other publishers could take advantage of this to advance or reposition their games. Some analysts even predict that 2025 could be dominated by Nintendo.
That said, this absence won't make everyone happy. Some investors, who were betting big on a late 2025 launch, may be gnashing their teeth. Especially after months of reassuring communication from Take-Two, which recently claimed to “feel confident” about the release date.
Source: Jason Schreier
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