Ever since Grand Theft Auto VI’s first trailer was released with a release window of 2025, everyone in the industry was wondering whether or not it would actually release. The way the release dates have been announced for some games made it seem like Grand Theft Auto VI was on its way to launching sometime this year, but this is no longer the case. Rockstar Games has officially announced that Grand Theft Auto VI is delayed and has a new release date of May 26, 2026.
In an official statement, Rockstar Games said:
“Hi everyone,
Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026.
We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game.
With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.
We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.”
Sincerely,
Rockstar Games
Prior to this announcement, there were reports last year that the game may get delayed and launch into 2026 with production reportedly falling behind schedule for a release this year so while this may be surprising for some, most probably knew a delay was inevitable, considering how long development goes at this time.
The wait to launch for Grand Theft Auto VI has been a little different from past Rockstar titles. Prior to its initial reveal, there was a massive leak with 50 minutes of footage online from more than 90 videos.
There has also been speculation that Grand Theft Auto VI could cost $100. Since those reports, Nintendo announced that some of its first-party titles will cost $80 and Microsoft just announced price increases for Xbox hardware, accessories, and that its first-party titles will now cost $80 starting this Holiday as everyone seems to be adjusting to the Trump administration’s tariffs.
So while it seemed inconceivable back then, now, it appears that the new standard for pricing in the video game industry is increasing which makes something like Grand Theft Auto VI costing $100 all that more plauisble but we’ll have to wait and see when the game launches next year on May 26.