Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has finally explained the complete story behind why GTA 6 was delayed from Fall 2025 to May 26th, 2026. The delay has disappointed millions of fans worldwide, but according to Rockstar’s parent company, this extra development time is absolutely necessary.
The Real Story Behind Rockstar’s Decision for GTA 6 Delay
In a recent interview with IGN, Zelnick explained that as the team approached their original Fall 2025 target, they realized additional polish was needed:
“As we get closer to completion of a title that’s seeking perfection, the needs for continued polish become clear,” Zelnick stated. “In this case there was an opportunity with a small amount of incremental time to make sure Rockstar Games achieves its creative vision with no limitations.”
During Take-Two’s latest earnings call on May 15th, 2025, CEO Strauss Zelnick called the delay a “worthy investment,” referring to the project as “the most anticipated entertainment property of all time.”
What many fans might not realize is that GTA 6 has actually been in development longer than most people thought. Take-Two revealed that serious development began in 2020 after the success of Red Dead Redemption 2. With its development budget estimated at over $1 billion, GTA 6 is on track to become the most expensive video game ever created.
The Financial Impact of Delaying GTA 6
Obviously, the decision to delay GTA 6 wasn’t taken lightly. Take-Two reported a $3.73 billion net loss last quarter, mainly due to a $3.55 billion “goodwill impairment charge” tied to the delay. The company’s stock price also dropped following the news. Despite this setback, the company keeps on being confident about hitting the new release date, with Zelnick noting, “When we set a specific date, generally speaking, we’ve been very good about reaching it.” Which is true.
Also Read:
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- GTA 5 vs GTA 6 Graphics Comparison: 5 Stunning Upgrades
- How Long Will GTA 6 Be? Story Length Speculation and Rockstar Patterns
What This Means For Players in the Community
The delay might feel disappointing now, but looking at the past, we know it will be worth the wait. According to insider reports, if GTA 6 had been released in 2025 as originally planned, it would have been a significantly worse game with many cool features being cut to meet the deadline. We don’t want that, do we?
With Rockstar’s track record of delivering stunning games, the extra development time likely means a more polished, fully featured experience when GTA 6 launches on May 26th, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. May 2026 might seem far away, but Take-Two still has major releases coming in 2025, including Mafia: The Old Country in August and Borderlands 4 in September. These games could help keep you busy while you wait to head back to Vice City. Or you can always play these open-world games similar to Grand Theft Auto before it arrives.
