Back in February, I had the opportunity to speak with Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, about the anticipated release of GTA 6, which was initially slated for a fall 2025 launch. At the time, Zelnick expressed strong confidence in meeting that deadline, stating he felt "really good about it." However, just three months later, the release of GTA 6 was pushed back to May 26, 2026, a move that perhaps surprised no one in the gaming community.
Curious about what led to this delay, I revisited the topic with Zelnick during a recent interview, coinciding with the release of Take-Two's latest financial results. He explained that as the game neared completion, the need for additional polish became evident. "As we get closer to completion of a title that's seeking perfection, the needs or lack thereof, for continued polish become clear," Zelnick remarked. He emphasized that the slight delay would allow Rockstar Games to fully realize their creative vision without any compromises, a decision he fully supported.
The delay of GTA 6 into the next financial year poses a short-term challenge for Take-Two's financial projections. However, Zelnick remains optimistic about the company's upcoming lineup, which includes titles like Gearbox's Borderlands 4, Hangar 13's Mafia: The Old Country, and new entries in the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series. "I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today," he stated, acknowledging the pain of delays but emphasizing the importance of supporting the development teams in their pursuit of perfection.
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With the new release date set for May 26, 2026, I couldn't help but ask Zelnick again about his confidence in meeting this revised deadline. His response was even more assured this time: "I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it." This statement suggests a strong commitment to the new date, hinting that further delays are unlikely, though in the world of game development, one can never be too certain.
The release of GTA 6 Trailer 2 and the accompanying information from Rockstar has fueled speculation and excitement about what the game will offer. Some fans are even theorizing that Liberty City might make an appearance in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC.
As we eagerly await more details, there's plenty to explore about GTA 6, including all the information we've gathered so far, a collection of 70 new screenshots, and expert analysis on how the game will perform on the PS5 Pro.
