GTA 6 Delay Timeline: Every Release Date Change, With Sources

How many times has GTA 6 been delayed?

Twice. The game was planned for fall 2025. On May 2, 2025, Rockstar moved it to May 26, 2026. On November 6, 2025, it moved again, to Thursday, November 19, 2026. Both changes were announced on the Rockstar Newswire and confirmed the same day by Take-Two, Rockstar's parent company.

Nothing has changed since. As of October 20, 2026, the official GTA VI page still says November 19, 2026, the stores list that date, and pre-load opens on November 12.

GTA 6 release date timeline

Every row links to the Rockstar post or the Take-Two document behind it. We read each Take-Two filing on October 20, 2026.

Why was GTA 6 delayed?

Both times Rockstar apologized for the wait and said it needed more time to finish the game to the standard players expect. In November 2025 it said the extra months would go into polish. It did not give a technical reason either time.

Take-Two framed the first delay as creative. In its May 2, 2025 release, CEO Strauss Zelnick backed "Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI." After the second delay, he said Rockstar "will now release Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19, 2026" and that the company remained "both excited and confident" in the result.

What did Take-Two say most recently?

The latest word is Take-Two's fiscal first quarter report from August 7, 2026. Its release schedule lists Grand Theft Auto VI for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026, and Zelnick pointed to "excitement around the November 19th launch of Grand Theft Auto VI" while keeping the company's fiscal 2027 net bookings forecast at $8.0 to $8.2 billion.

The next update comes on Monday, November 9, 2026, when Take-Two reports its second quarter after the US market closes, with a call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern. That is ten days before launch and three days before pre-load opens, so a change at that point would be unusual. We will add whatever the report says to the table above.

Has GTA 6 been delayed again?

No. As of October 20, 2026, there is no third delay. The official GTA VI page shows November 19, 2026, the Rockstar Store gives November 12 for pre-load, and the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store listings carry November 19 release dates.

If the date changes, check the Rockstar Newswire, official GTA VI page and Take-Two disclosures for confirmation. A screenshot, a retailer email or a "source says" post is not a delay. For launch-week timing, see GTA 6 unlock times by country, what pre-load is and when it opens and the GTA 6 launch day checklist. The countdown lives on the GTA 6 release date page.

Did GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 get delayed too?

Yes, both did. GTA V was first planned for spring 2013, and Rockstar moved it to September 17, 2013, saying the extra development time would be worth it. Red Dead Redemption 2 also slipped. In February 2018 Rockstar set October 26, 2018, apologized to fans and said it needed "a little extra time for polish."

Both of those games shipped on the date set by their last delay.

More guides

• GTA 6 Editions Explained: Standard vs UltimateGTA 6 comes in two editions: Standard, at $79.99 in the US and £69.99 in the UK, and the digital-only Ultimate, at $99.99 and £89.99 on the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store. Ultimate adds items that unlock chapter by chapter, and you can upgrade later. The Collector's Box is merchandise, not the game.
• GTA 6 File Size: What the Stores Say So FarThere is no official GTA 6 file size yet. As of October 19, 2026, the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Store and the Rockstar Store list no download or install size for GTA VI on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. The first firm number should appear around pre-load on November 12. Until then, every figure online is a guess.
• GTA 6 Gangs, Crews and Criminal Contacts Shown by RockstarRockstar has named the PTT Youngin$ street gang and described Ambrosia’s unnamed bikers, Raul’s robbery crew and drug runners in the Keys. Boobie Ike runs a business network with criminal ties; Real Dimez are a rap duo with a criminal past. They are related contacts, not two more confirmed gangs.
• GTA 6 Homes and Garages Rockstar Has ShownRockstar says Jason stays rent-free at one of Brian Heder’s properties and shows a building labelled “Jason’s safehouse”; these may be the same place. The Extended Look also shows Jason and Lucia in an apartment, while two edition bonuses include personal garages. Rockstar has not published a safehouse count or announced property purchases.
• GTA 6 Launch Day Checklist: What to Do Before and On November 19A dated checklist for GTA VI launch week: what to sort out before pre-load opens on November 12, what to do if the pre-load will not start, when the game unlocks in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and what to do if it does not unlock when you expect.
• GTA 6 Map: Every Confirmed Location in LeonidaGTA 6 is set in Leonida, a fictional US state. Rockstar has named six destinations there: Vice City, the Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga National Park. It has not released an official map, so borders and size are unknown. Below is every place Rockstar has named, with sources.