5 reasons why GTA 6 won't be delayed to 2026

While the rumor mills go on about GTA 6 getting delayed till 2026, there is still some hope left. It’s been over a year since Rockstar Games publicly talked about the upcoming game. While the title is still in development, the lack of new details has led fans to worry about a possible delay. However, one can't be sure about anything until there is an official announcement from the developers.

This article lists five reasons why Rockstar Games may not delay the release of GTA 6 till 2026.

Note: This article is subjective and only reflects the writer’s opinions.

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5 reasons why the GTA 6 2026 delay is unlikely

1) Take-Two Interactive is still holding onto the previous deadline

The official Grand Theft Auto 6 release window is still fall 2025 (Image via Rockstar Games)

Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar Games’ parent company) held its latest Earnings Call in November 2024, where it announced no changes to the upcoming game’s release window. Officially, the game is still scheduled to be released in fall 2025.

Therefore, at present, we can be confident that rumors about GTA 6 being delayed to 2026 are completely baseless. Rockstar Games announces any delays months before the announced date. Since there has been no announcement till now, the game is surely on track to be released in 2025.

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2) Rockstar recently distributed GTA 6-themed merchandise

Rockstar Games sent its developers GTA 6-themed merch a few days before the holiday season, stirring another series of speculations. The gifts included a sweater with the studio’s logo having a similar color pattern as Grand Theft Auto 6’s official artwork.

Although not in standard terms, the sweater can be regarded as Rockstar’s first promotional item for the upcoming game. It also started the “Number 27 Theory,” with fans now anticipating a new trailer on December 27, 2024. Nonetheless, the design choice of the official merch may indicate that the studio is preparing to showcase the game next year.

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3) The studio is “crunching” hard to meet the deadline

In December 2023, Rockstar Games announced that GTA 6 will be released in 2025. Earlier this year (2024), as the upcoming title's development entered its final leg, the studio called back all of its employees and developers to work from the office.

This stage is often known as “crunching,” where developers work hard to finish the project on time. After facing multiple leaks in the recent past Rockstar has seemingly tightened its security. As a result, we can expect Grand Theft Auto 6 to release in 2025.

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4) The studio still has time to finish the project

The 2025 fall season is still months away and Rockstar Games has plenty of time to develop and finish the upcoming title. Fans expected GTA 6 screenshots on Christmas Eve 2024, and the lack of it has certainly disappointed many.

However, considering Rockstar Games’ expertise, we can surely expect Grand Theft Auto 6 to release on time. Since the project is already in its final stretch, it should not take long to release the vanilla version. Fall typically starts in September, and the studio still has around nine to ten months.

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5) Rockstar has to take care of its reputation

Rockstar Games is very serious about its company reputation (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar Games is notorious for its project delays. Both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 were delayed multiple times before its release. While the studio hasn’t released any new titles after RDR 2, the release of GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition was another blow to its reputation.

Now, while fans are highly anticipating GTA 6 in 2025, an announcement of a delay could deal a major blow to its image. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the studio would take that risk.

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