Take-Two CEO: GTA 6 Postponed to 2026 to Perfect Rockstar's Vision

In February, I spoke with Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick about the planned fall 2025 release for GTA 6. He expressed strong confidence in meeting that timeline. Three months later, to little surprise, the release was pushed to May 26, 2026.

What shifted in that time? In a recent interview tied to Take-Two’s latest financial report, Zelnick explained that as GTA 6 neared completion, the need for additional refinement became evident.

“As we approach the final stages of a project aiming for perfection, the need for further polishing becomes apparent,” Zelnick noted. “With just a bit more time, we saw an opportunity to ensure Rockstar Games fully realizes its creative ambitions without compromise. I fully endorsed that decision.”

The delay of GTA 6 beyond Take-Two’s current fiscal year impacts short-term financials, but Zelnick remains optimistic about the company’s upcoming lineup, including Gearbox’s Borderlands 4, Hangar 13’s Mafia: The Old Country, and new entries in the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series.

“I’m very confident about our Fiscal 26 outlook,” he said. “Delays are tough, no question, but supporting our teams in their pursuit of excellence is the priority.”

GTA 6 Jason Duval Screenshots

I revisited my February question with Zelnick: how certain is he that Rockstar will meet the May 26, 2026, date? This time, his confidence was even stronger:

“Historically, when we’ve set a firm date, we’ve been highly reliable in hitting it.”

That suggests GTA 6 is unlikely to face further delays, though nothing is guaranteed. A slip from this set date would be surprising.

The debut of GTA 6 Trailer 2 and Rockstar’s detailed info release have fueled speculation about what’s in store for what’s poised to be the biggest game ever. Some fans speculate Liberty City could feature in GTA 6, either at launch or as DLC.

While we await more, we’ve got extensive GTA 6 coverage, including every detail uncovered so far, a collection of 70 new screenshots, and expert insights on GTA 6’s visuals on PS5 Pro.