Rockstar Games on Thursday announced another major delay for Grand Theft Auto VI, popularly known as GTA 6, pushing the release date back by six months to November 19, 2026. This marks the second major delay for the game that’s a sequel to the record-breaking GTA 5, which came out originally in 2013.
The postponement comes as a disappointment for millions of fans globally who have been eagerly awaiting GTA 6’s launch. The game was originally scheduled for a release in Fall 2025 – information that was released in the first trailer from December 5, 2023. Rockstar Games then announced a delay to May 2026, stating ‘polishing’ reasons to seek more time for development.
Rockstar Games has now issued a statement, acknowledging the long wait and apologising to its dedicated fanbase, citing the necessity of additional development time to ensure the game meets the studio’s high standards.
“Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026. We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realise has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve,” reads the statement.
GTA 6 launch delayed to November 19, 2026
The game’s developers have reassured fans that the extended wait would be worthwhile, offering a brief teaser of what is to come. They continued, “We want to thank you again for your patience and support. While the wait is a little longer, we are incredibly excited for players to experience the sprawling state of Leonida and a return to modern-day Vice City.”
The development of GTA 6 has faced challenges, including a major data leak a year before the official trailer release. Over 90 gameplay videos of the under-development product were exposed on social media, followed by the surprise leak of the first GTA 6 trailer hours prior to the official release.
The new installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise is confirmed to feature multiple protagonists, Lucia and Jason. Trailers have indicated that the characters are inspired by the notorious American criminal duo, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. The game’s setting takes players to the fictional state of Leonida and a return to Vice City, promising a bigger, sprawling open world than the one shown in GTA 5.
