GTA 6 Release Date Still May 2026

Rockstar Games has officially set the GTA 6 release date for May 26, 2026, placing an end to months of speculation about when the next entry in the blockbuster franchise will arrive. Originally planned for a 2025 launch, the new timeline pushes the game further into the next console cycle and leaves fans waiting longer than initially expected.

The delay was first announced in May 2025, just days before a fresh trailer for the game. Rockstar described the decision as necessary to ensure the ambitious project could meet expectations, marking another instance of the studio’s long history of extending development schedules. The announcement has reinforced that patience will be required before returning to Vice City in the most expansive Grand Theft Auto yet.

Rockstar addressed fans directly when revealing the new timeline.

"We are very sorry that this is later than you expected," the studio said. "The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game. With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception." — Rockstar Games

The latest confirmation notes that GTA 6 will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. However, Rockstar has not confirmed a PC release date, and details about how the game will connect with the massively successful GTA Online remain unclear. Nor has the price of GTA 6 been revealed, leaving another key detail out of reach for now.

Fans may wonder if the timeline will hold, given Rockstar’s well-documented perfectionism and its pattern of delaying major releases in the past. Grand Theft Auto 4, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2 all faced delays before reaching their final launch dates. Still, Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, has expressed strong confidence in the plan.

In August, Strauss Zelnick told CNBC that his confidence level in the May 2026 date was “very, very high,” signaling that, at least from a leadership standpoint, Take-Two believes the project is on track. Even so, industry analysts and longtime fans remain cautious given the scale of the release and Rockstar’s history of polishing its games extensively before launch.

The hype surrounding GTA 6 is unprecedented. Rockstar has described it as “the largest game launch in history,” and the scope is expected to draw millions of players worldwide on day one. The challenge for Rockstar is to meet the weight of those expectations without repeating the troubled launches seen elsewhere in the industry, such as the release of Cyberpunk 2077.

While some disappointment lingers over a big delay for GTA 6, many players view the extra development time as a necessary step to ensure stability and quality. After more than a decade since GTA 5’s original release, the anticipation is at an all-time high, and Rockstar is in no position to risk tarnishing the reputation of one of gaming’s most lucrative franchises.

With the GTA 6 release date now firmly locked to May 26, 2026, all eyes are on Rockstar and Take-Two as the industry counts down to one of the most important launches of the decade. Until then, fans can expect Rockstar’s silence to continue as development progresses behind the scenes, with the company choosing polish over speed once again.