Grand Theft Auto VI delayed to May 2026

After over a year of no updates since the first trailer dropped in December 2023, Rockstar Games has delayed Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most eagerly anticipated video games of all time, to May 2026.

Originally slated for an autumn/fall 2025 release, Rockstar Games confirmed the highly anticipated sequel to Grand Theft Auto V will now launch on 26th May 2026.

“Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026,” the company said in a statement posted on Rockstar’s website.

“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. 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. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.

We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.”

Sim racing developers breathe a sigh of relief

With the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series expected to be the most successful entertainment product of all time, publishers are hesitant to confirm release dates for upcoming titles for fear of being overshadowed by the juggernaut that is GTA 6.

Staggeringly, GTA 5 has sold over 210 million copies since it launched in 2013, generating $9.5 billion in revenue according to Take-Two’s latest earnings report.

Sim racing developers will be breathing a sigh of relief.

“We’re still holding our breath because there’s this other title releasing this year…. Something with a six in the name,” said Rennsport Creative Director, Kim Orremark, earlier this week.

“It’s really hard this year to be honest, I think all the publishers are circling around and not really defining a final release date because there’s this one huge title,” followed up Rennsport CEO Morris Hebecker.

Set in the Florida-inspired state of Leonida, home to Vice City, GTA 6 revolves around two player characters, Jason and Lucia, with a Bonnie and Clyde-style romantic and criminal relationship.

Other details are being kept under wraps, but Rockstar describes GTA 6 as “the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.”

Like other games in the series, driving and stealing cars will be central, with racing being a popular mode in GTA Online.

Grand Theft Auto VI release date

Grand Theft Auto VI releases on 26^th May, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. A PC version has yet to be announced.