American video game publisher Rockstar Games on Friday announced their decision to further postpone the release of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6, the firm's most-awaited game since the previous instalment, Grand Theft Auto 5, released in 2013.
Following a radio silence and numerous delays, a trailer for GTA 6, released in December 2023, quickly garnered over 100 million views, and revealed its two main protagonists, as well as a glimpse of the game's fictional city of Leonida, based on Florida.
It also revealed that the advanced successor to GTA 5 would be released in 2025, although it remained vague about the exact date. However, as per Rockstar Games' announcement, the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series will release on May 26, 2026.
“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto game has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and patience as we work to finish the game,” the announcement read.
This led to a slew of netizens, streamers and influencers expressing their frustration and disappointment online, although some were also relieved that Rockstar Games had finally issued a definite release date now. The 12-year-long wait for the game has led to fans creating hundreds of memes over the years, making not only the game, but also the waiting period for it, an important part of pop culture.
Equally famed for the 'Red Dead Redemption' series, Rockstar Games has established itself as a renowned video game publisher (rivalling the likes of Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, and Sony Interactive) particularly known for their narrative power, worldbuilding, realism, and delaying video game releases—especially those belonging to their two main franchises—in favour of getting every single detail right.
In that regard, Rockstar explained that “the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception”.
Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026. https://t.co/YgaIn1cYc8 pic.twitter.com/cyeK7GM6Ob
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) May 2, 2025
“We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”
"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," Rockstar's parent company Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said.
