Pre-launch
GTA 6 delay history: every dateand why it moved
GTA 6 slipped twice, from fall 2025 to May 26, 2026, then to November 19, 2026. Dates, who announced each change, and the reason given.
By Sunset Edition desk2 min read
Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed twice. It was first expected in fall 2025, Rockstar moved it to May 26, 2026 on May 2, 2025, and moved it again to November 19, 2026 on November 6, 2025. Confirmed The date has not changed since, and Take-Two repeated it as recently as August 7, 2026. Confirmed
The timeline
| Date announced | Who | Date given | Stated reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 4, 2023 | Rockstar (Trailer 1) | A 2025 window | None, first reveal |
| Early February 2025 | Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, earnings call | Fall 2025 reaffirmed | Said the window was "pretty narrow" and fine |
| May 2, 2025 | Rockstar newswire, Take-Two press release | May 26, 2026 | Extra time to finish at the quality fans expect |
| November 6, 2025 | Rockstar newswire, Take-Two earnings release | November 19, 2026 | Extra months to finish with more polish |
| June 24, 2026 | Rockstar via Take-Two | November 19, 2026 kept, pre-orders from June 25 | Not applicable |
| August 7, 2026 | Take-Two, Q1 fiscal 2027 earnings | November 19, 2026 reaffirmed | Not applicable |
Delay one: fall 2025 to May 26, 2026
Rockstar's May 2, 2025 newswire post set May 26, 2026. It apologised that the date was later than players expected and asked for patience while the studio finished the game. Confirmed Take-Two's same-day release says the game "was expected to launch in Fall of 2025" and that it fully supports Rockstar taking additional time. Confirmed Four days later, on May 6, 2025, Rockstar released Trailer 2. Confirmed
Delay two: May 26 to November 19, 2026
Rockstar's November 6, 2025 post says Grand Theft Auto VI "will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026". The only reason it gives is that the extra months allow a finish "with the level of polish you have come to expect." Confirmed Take-Two put the same date in its second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings release on the same day and said it was confident in the result. Confirmed
What has been said since
- On June 24, 2026, Rockstar announced pre-orders from June 25, with a November 19, 2026 launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Confirmed
- On August 7, 2026, Zelnick tied Take-Two's unchanged $8.0 billion to $8.2 billion full-year outlook to the "November 19th launch". Confirmed See Take-Two reaffirms the date.
What we will not do
We will not guess whether a further change is coming. Neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has announced one, and any "leaked" new date has no official source. Unconfirmed If that changes, the official posts above are where it will appear first.
What the date means for you
Plan around November 19, 2026. Pre-load opens November 12 for digital pre-orders, and unlock times vary by region. Our release date and unlock times page and the time zone table cover the clock. For a city-by-city view, see the release time hub.
Related
- GTA 6 release date and unlock times
- Release time by time zone
- GTA 6 trailers timeline
- The long wait: a GTA 6 timeline
- Launch day checklist
How many times has GTA 6 been delayed?
Twice. The first move was announced May 2, 2025 (fall 2025 to May 26, 2026) and the second on November 6, 2025 (to November 19, 2026). Confirmed
Why was GTA 6 delayed?
Rockstar's stated reason both times was more time to finish the game to the quality it wants. On the second delay it specifically cited polish. Confirmed
What is the current GTA 6 release date?
November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Confirmed
Has GTA 6 been delayed again?
No. As of October 7, 2026, neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has announced any change to November 19, 2026. Confirmed
Who announced the original 2025 window?
It first appeared with Trailer 1 on December 4, 2023. Take-Two later described it as a fall 2025 window. Confirmed
Launch alerts
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Sources
9 links- Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Set to Launch November 19, 2026Rockstar Games Newswire, 2025-11-06
- Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Coming May 26, 2026Rockstar Games Newswire, 2025-05-02
- Take-Two reiterates expectations; Rockstar announces release date of May 26, 2026Take-Two Interactive IR, 2025-05-02
- Take-Two reports results for fiscal second quarter 2026 (Form 8-K exhibit)U.S. SEC filing, 2025-11-06
- Take-Two reports results for fiscal first quarter 2027 (Form 8-K exhibit)U.S. SEC filing, 2026-08-07
- Rockstar Games announces pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VITake-Two Interactive IR, 2026-06-24
- Grand Theft Auto VI, An Extended Look (official site, trailer dates)Rockstar Games, 2026-08-27
- GTA 6 on Course for Fall 2025, Take-Two CEO SaysVariety, 2025-02-07
- Grand Theft Auto VI release date delayed to November 2026Game Informer, 2025-11-06
We summarise facts in our own words and link to where they come from. Read the source for the full story.
Last verified Oct 7, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Suggest an edit.
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