GTA 6 Delay Rumors Explained : Should Fans Be Worried?

All the wait surrounding the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) has surpassed one year. Just the name of the game brings to mind visions of adrenaline-pumped chases across the sprawling universe which Rockstar Games has tirelessly worked on over the last ten years, along with Vice City, which would be magnificently lit in neon. While there is an abundant amount of excitement, it is important to note that it could also be due to the sheer chaos that comes with video game development. This brings a pressing question to light: will the expected launch of GTA 6 be in the fall of 2025, or will it once again be pushed back?

The official GTA 6 trailer announced the game's release for the year 2025. During its earnings calls, Take-Two Interactive repeatedly stated that GTA 6's target release window is the fall of 2025. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged in an interview that the possibility of a release date slippage always exists.

GTA 6 2025 Release Date

Let’s go back in time to December 5, 2023, where we first heard the announcement regarding the official release window for GTA 6. A trailer was introduced that ended with the phrase ‘Coming 2025’ quite explicitly in the finale. This confirmed that 2025 is indeed set to be the year of release for the long-awaited successor to GTA 5.

Later that month, Take-Two revealed during an earnings call that GTA 6 is set for marketing in fall of 2025. The parent company of the game announced in this call that GTA 6 is set to release in the fall of 2025 and has reiterated this point in multiple reports and calls afterwards. This statement, alongside insistence in other financial communications from the parent company of Take-Two Interactive, serves the foundation of the company’s current forecast.

We can speculate that marketing for Take-Two's games, including a Mafia and Borderlands title, will tip the scales toward Q3 2025. Some rumours suggest a marketing deal between Rockstar Games and PS5, which means those with access to the PS store have listed GTA 6 for internal future listings. Although we may not receive confirmation for a trailer announcement, anticipation of new materials is justifyable. With all of that said, speculation on a delay for the release of GTA 6 also remains on the table.

GTA 6 Delayed?

A possible delay stems from a quote given by Take-Two's CEO. During his interview, he provided some insight into the marketing strategy for GTA 6, and said, “We found that the better thing to do is provide marketing materials relatively close to the release window.” In discussion with IGN he noted, there is always a risk of slippage, and saying absolutely might just jinx the release date. 

He also added:

“So we feel really good about it. […] I think the game is eagerly anticipated both internally and externally. We know that Rockstar seeks perfection. I never claim success before it occurs. I’m fond of saying arrogance is the enemy of continued success, so we’re all running scared and looking over our shoulders and we know that the competition is not asleep. Our whole organization is super excited.”

Honestly, it's pretty usual for big game studios to push back release dates, so nobody should be shocked by it. We've seen it before with titles like Batman: Arkham Knight and Uncharted 4 getting delayed super close to launch. Even Assassin’s Creed: Shadows got hit with a major delay recently. Usually, this happens because they’re trying to do some final touch-ups and make sure the game is really polished when it finally comes out.

Notorious Gamer Villains informs us that, according to ex-Rockstar Games’ technical director Obbe Vermeij, if the decision was made to delay the release of GTA 6, we would not know for approximately six months. In Vermeij’s words, “the decision to postpone GTA 4 was done in a roundabout way about four months before it was set to release.”

Vermeij also stated, “There’s no competition. No one is going to release the game until they are 100% satisfied with everything said in the trailer. GTA 6 will sell for over a decade.”

Is GTA 6 Trailer Delayed Due to Same?

The GTA 6 videos page on Rockstar's website has been updated, leading to speculation about a potential delay in the game's release. While Rockstar has confirmed plans to release the game in Fall 2025, some believe that a delay is possible due to the complexity of the game's development. The release date will likely be confirmed with a new trailer, but no official announcement has been made yet.