GTA 6 Delay: Rockstar’s Pursuit of Perfection Costs PlayStation and Xbox Millions
The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) has been officially delayed until May 26, 2026, and the ripple effects are already being felt throughout the gaming industry. While fans are understandably disappointed, Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive insist the delay is necessary to achieve their vision of "perfection.", the delay is causing big issues for some console producers and vendors.
According to Take-Two's latest earnings report, development on GTA 6 "in earnest" began in 2020, following the release of Red Dead Redemption II in 2018. This likely refers to the start of full production, as opposed to earlier, preliminary stages.
CEO Strauss Zelnick emphasized the importance of the additional time to ensure Rockstar Games can realize its creative vision without limitations. During the earnings briefing, Take-Two highlighted the "ambition and complexity" of GTA 6, stating it surpasses any past Rockstar release. Zelnick acknowledged the pain of the delay but reiterated his support for the team's pursuit of "perfection."
"While of course, delays pain me--how could they not?--the most important thing to do is to support your teams in their search for perfection," he said.
Zelnick also addressed the long wait for GTA 6, suggesting that Rockstar has been consistently delivering content that could be considered "a new Grand Theft Auto release" multiple times per year through GTA Online. He argues that the robust content updates for GTA Online over the past decade are comparable to standalone titles.
"Rockstar has been supplying content to Grand Theft Auto Online, some of which is so robust that if you go back 15 years, it would have counted as a standalone title," he said.
The delay has significant implications for the console market. Analyst firm Ampere Analysis has lowered its revenue and sales forecast for PlayStation and Xbox, estimating 700,000 fewer consoles will be sold in 2025 than previously projected due to the absence of GTA 6. They also anticipate 21 million fewer game sales, resulting in an estimated $2.7 billion loss in revenue for the console market.
That feeling is certainly felt in the comments made by Zelnick in a new interview with IGN, which coincides with Take-Two's latest quarterly earnings report.
"I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it," he says.
Ampere suggests that Nintendo will benefit from the delay, as PlayStation and Xbox face a more subdued year. Overall, the industry is now projected to grow by only 0.9% in 2025, with a larger 2.2% increase expected in 2026.
Despite the delay, excitement for GTA 6 remains high. Fans eagerly analyze every detail of the trailers, anticipating the immersive environments, realistic character models, and new gameplay features Rockstar is promising.
The pressure is on for Rockstar to deliver a polished and groundbreaking experience with GTA 6. Given the expectations and the extended development time, any shortcomings would likely face heavy criticism. While even a flawed GTA game would likely generate substantial revenue, Rockstar and Take-Two are clearly unwilling to compromise on quality.
What are your thoughts on the GTA 6 delay? Do you believe the pursuit of "perfection" is worth the wait? Share your opinions and predictions in the comments below!
Related issues news
When will GTA 6 be released?
The long-awaited launch of Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed a second time, with Rockstar Games, the franchise's developer, announcing the new release date to be May 26, 2026.
How long has GTA 6 been in development?
Rockstar Games began preliminary work on Grand Theft Auto VI in 2014 after Grand Theft Auto V's release. Early development started after Red Dead Redemption 2's release in 2018, and principal production began in 2020. During its production, it was code-named Project Americas.
