GTA 6 Delay: Gaming Industry Braces for $2.7 Billion Revenue Loss, Nintendo Could Benefit
The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) has been delayed to 2026, sending ripples through the gaming industry. A new report from Ampere Analysis projects that this delay could wipe out a staggering $2.7 billion in expected spending for 2025. This revenue was expected from game and hardware sales related to the game’s initial release.
While the delay is a blow, Ampere Analysis specifies that the $2.7 billion isn't lost but delayed. The gaming industry is still projected to reach impressive figures. It is thought that GTA 6 would sell 40 million copies and earn $3 billion in its first year alone.
Sony was also expected to benefit from the release of GTA 6. Analysts had predicted an increase in console sales. Now those sales will be delayed as well. Now other companies have an opportunity to shine. Ampere Analysis suggests that Nintendo is particularly well-positioned to capitalize on this situation with the upcoming launch of the Switch 2 and games like Mario Kart World.
"The release of GTA VI in FY27 is expected to deliver a material uplift in engagement, monetization, and profitability, with the potential to drive multiyear financial strength across both premium and live service revenue streams," Benchmark analyst Mike Hickney wrote, maintaining a "Buy" rating on Take Two Interactive Software (TTWO) stock which owns Rockstar Games.
Piers Harding-Rolls, research director of games at Ampere Analysis, notes that the industry is currently lacking a transformative technology or updated monetization model. He highlights five opportunities for the industry to still drive growth:
- Nintendo Switch 2 representing a 7-8 billion dollar opportunity over the next two years.
- Growth in the Middle East & Africa and Southeast Asia
- Reaching underserved audiences, like younger female gamers and those over 55.
- Optimizing monetization, particularly in mobile gaming with off-app payments.
- Building holistic franchise strategies to drive more value from a game's IP.
So, while the delay of GTA 6 presents a significant challenge, the gaming industry remains robust and adaptable. The impact remains to be seen when GTAV finally drops in 2026.
What do you think about the GTA 6 delay? How will it impact the gaming landscape? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Related issues news
Is GTA 6 delayed?
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has commented on GTA 6's recent delay, confirming the push was less than six months, while he stressed that another delay is unlikely. Speaking to CNBC, Zelnick said GTA 6's delay was 'pretty short,' amounting to 'less than six months.' GTA 6's new release date is May 26, 2026.
When will GTA VI be released?
We'll, of course, keep you updated when we learn more. GTA VI is currently scheduled to be released on 26 May 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
How long was GTA 6 in development?
GTA 6 started preproduction in 2019 and did things such as: Testing mechanics, finding actors, Working and re-working systems, script writing. GTA 6 entered full production in 2020 and most likely entered its debugging stages in sometime in the middle-end of 2024. GTA 6 has had a full development timeline of 2020-2026.
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