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The release of Grand Theft Auto VI has been pushed back to May 26, 2026.
The news sent shares of Take-Two Interactive tumbling 9 per cent in premarket trading. The highly anticipated title from Rockstar Games was previously expected in the fall of 2025.
The Grand Theft Auto franchise is a cornerstone of Take-Two's business, driving significant revenue and player engagement.
The upcoming installment has been a key factor in Wall Street's financial projections for the company. Analysts predict the game will generate billions of dollars in sales annually, following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V.
Released in 2013, GTA V has sold more than 200 million copies, cementing its place as one of the best-selling video games in history.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed full support for Rockstar Games' decision, stating, "We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be a groundbreaking blockbuster entertainment experience."
The delay suggests the company is prioritising quality and aiming to deliver a truly exceptional gaming experience, despite the market reaction.
Delays have become commonplace in modern game development as studios grapple with rising production costs and growing pressure from players to deliver polished experiences at launch.
The delay now pushes the game out of Take-Two's fiscal 2026 release window and into 2027, which will likely bring down booking expectations for the next fiscal year. The company also reiterated its expectations for sequential increases in net bookings for fiscal 2026 and 2027.
Despite the postponement, Take-Two has a number of titles lined up for the next fiscal year, including "Borderlands 4" and "Mafia: The Old Country," which are expected to be big launches in their own right.
"Given that Take-Two reiterated expectations of record level net bookings in both FY'26 and FY'27, we think this alleviates some of the potential concerns around sales cannibalization in FY'26," D.A. Davidson & Co analyst Wyatt Swanson said.
Rockstar Games unveiled the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI in December 2023, set to Tom Petty's "Love Is a Long Road."
The teaser confirmed the game's return to Vice City, a fictional take on Miami, and introduced Lucia, the franchise's first female lead. It hinted at a modern-day Bonnie-and-Clyde duo and drew more than 100 million views within 24 hours.
"GTA VI" was also expected to be a major driver of overall video game industry growth this year after the market underwent a downturn following pandemic highs.
The delay also comes amid a period of economic uncertainty in the industry as sweeping U.S. tariffs have led to a surge in gaming console prices and a pullback in consumer spending, denting sales prospects for many game publishers.
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