Rockstar Games has officially postponed ‘GTA 6‘ yet again and has now announced that the highly anticipated game will be released on November 19, 2026. This marks the second major delay of the game and reinforces what was going to be one of the longest waits in gaming history.
When ‘GTA 6‘ was unveiled in December 2023, it was revealed that it would come out in 2025. The studio subsequently pushed the release date back to May 2026, but that all changed. In a statement issued on November 6, Rockstar said that they needed the extra time to create the “level of polish” fans have come to expect from the company’s games.
‘GTA 6’ Gets Delayed Again
The information was revealed just prior to Take-Two Interactive’s quarterly earnings call. Rockstar Games released a statement on X and apologized to fans for the delay. They revealed they need additional time to further “polish” the game and live up to the expectations that people have.
Hi everyone,
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) November 6, 2025
Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026.
We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and… pic.twitter.com/yLX9KIiDzX
While disappointing for fans and gamers alike, the announcement was not shocking to fans. Many fans and people within the industry were speculating that ‘GTA 6‘ might be delayed again. The studio is known for taking its time and making sure every product they release is what they deem perfect, and one would have to guess this same procedure is being followed for ‘GTA 6.‘
By the time the product is released to fans of the series, it will be over thirteen years since ‘Grand Theft Auto V‘ debuted back in 2013, and this is a clear indication of the scope of the project.
What We Know About ‘GTA 6‘ So Far
‘GTA 6‘ will feature a fictional state called Leonida, inspired by Florida and exhibiting both urban environments and rural land. Players can expect Vice City to return as well, now within a modern context, along with new play areas.
The game follows two characters, Lucia and Jason, who are both drawn into the fray of crime after Lucia is released from prison. Their journey provides a narrative and emotional basis for the game and marks the first time a main female character will be playable in a ‘GTA‘ title.
Why the Delay Makes Sense
There is no question that fans will be disappointed by the news of ‘GTA 6‘ being delayed while they have been waiting for a sequel for over a decade since ‘GTA 5‘s release. Yet it’s not uncommon for experts to also state that the games industry seems to be moving towards emphasizing polish instead of working against deadlines, and these delays indicate that Rockstar and other developers are dedicated to something that meets or exceeds the previous game’s standard in every way.
After all, Rockstar has been under considerable pressure to deliver something that exceeds ‘GTA 5‘ and effectively changes the potential of what open-world games could be. Since ‘GTA 5‘ is still near the top of the all-time best-selling games lists, expectations have not only been high, but possibly unrealistic as well.
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Reports also mentioned that Rockstar had undergone internal restructutring at their UK studios where several employees were laid off in October. The company has not directly related these layoffs to the delay, but the timing raises questions regarding internal issues around production and their time-frames.
Nonetheless, players are hoping that this is the final time the game has been delayed and they can get their hands on the title in the fall of 2026. Aside from this, Rockstar Games also announced the upcoming winter DLC for ‘GTA Online.’ So till the ‘GTA 6,’ players will have something to do in Vinewood Hills.
