The Blubber

Grand Theft Auto 6, one of the most hotly anticipated video game releases in history, has been postponed until May 2026.

The latest installment in Rockstar Games’ blockbuster series was originally slated for release on consoles later this year. However, the developer announced it would need additional time to meet the high standards fans have come to expect.

“We need the extra time to deliver the level of quality you expect and deserve,” the company said in a statement to its community.

The previous title, GTA 5, remains a cultural and commercial juggernaut—it’s the second-best selling video game ever and continues to thrive thanks to its robust online multiplayer mode.

Official updates on GTA 6 have been limited since Rockstar dropped a trailer in December 2023, which quickly racked up over 100 million views. The 90-second teaser introduced two lead characters and offered a first look at the game’s setting: Leonida, a fictional state inspired by Florida.

Rockstar acknowledged the massive fan interest, calling the response “truly humbling for our entire team.”

The studio is known for its lengthy development timelines—it's been 12 years since GTA 5 was released—and fans have frequently joked about the long wait online. Rockstar also has a history of pushing back major launches, including its last major title, Red Dead Redemption 2, which was also delayed prior to its release in 2018.

Despite the delays, Rockstar has built a reputation for delivering polished, groundbreaking titles. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar’s parent company Take-Two Interactive, has previously emphasized that every new Rockstar game “needs to be something you've never seen before.”