Rockstar Games announced November 6, 2025, that Grand Theft Auto VI will launch November 19, 2026. The game was scheduled for May 26, 2026, making this the second delay for the highly anticipated title. The announcement came during Take-Two Interactive’s quarterly earnings call, where CEO Strauss Zelnick stated the additional time will allow Rockstar to deliver the polish fans expect.
Take-Two’s stock price dropped approximately 7-10% in after-hours trading following the announcement, with shares falling from $252.50 to as low as $219.87 per share. The stock began declining at 4:06 PM Eastern, one minute after Rockstar’s official announcement on social media. Grand Theft Auto V, released in September 2013, has sold over 220 million units worldwide, making it the second-best-selling video game of all time.
The Delay Timeline
Tracking Grand Theft Auto VI’s evolving release schedule from initial announcement to current target date
By The Numbers
Key statistics from the delay announcement and Take-Two’s quarterly earnings
Take-Two Interactive reported net bookings of $1.96 billion for the fiscal second quarter ending September 30, 2025, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.73 billion. The 33% year-over-year growth was driven by strong performances from NBA 2K26, which sold over 5 million units with double-digit growth compared to NBA 2K25, and Borderlands 4, which launched in September but faced technical issues on PC that resulted in softer-than-expected initial sales.
CEO Strauss Zelnick told Variety ahead of the announcement, “In this instance, of course, we’re seeking to release the most extraordinary title anyone’s ever seen in the history of entertainment. That’s a tall order. And in this instance, Rockstar Games believes a limited amount of additional time is required for polish to support that view.” The company raised its full fiscal year net bookings guidance to between $6.4 billion and $6.5 billion, representing 14% growth over the previous fiscal year.
“We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve.”
— Rockstar Games, Official Statement, November 6, 2025
Recurrent consumer spending increased 20% year-over-year, accounting for 73% of total net bookings. GTA Online continues delivering strong results, with GTA+ membership growing 20% year-over-year. Mobile titles including Toon Blast, Match Factory!, Color Block Jam, and Empires & Puzzles contributed to the quarter’s performance. Mafia: The Old Country beat internal expectations, which Zelnick said confirms the market exists for well-executed narrative games at fair prices.
The delay has implications for other major game releases planned for 2026. Industry analysts expect developers to reassess their launch schedules to avoid competing with what Rockstar has called “the largest game launch in history.” Games potentially affected include Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved built in Unreal Engine 5 and targeting fall 2026, and Marvel’s Wolverine from Insomniac Games. The annual Call of Duty release, typically scheduled for early November, may shift to an earlier window to avoid the November 19 launch date.
Market Impact Analysis
How the delay affected Wall Street, competitors, and the gaming industry
Games That May Shift Schedules
Major titles potentially affected by GTA VI’s new November 2026 release date
The November 19, 2026 release date was discussed during Take-Two Interactive’s fiscal second quarter earnings call. CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the decision to delay the game by six additional months from the May 2026 target. Net bookings for the quarter reached $1.96 billion, with NBA 2K26 selling over 5 million units and showing double-digit growth compared to the previous year’s title. The company raised its full fiscal year guidance to between $6.4 billion and $6.5 billion.
Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 220 million units since its 2013 release. GTA Online continues generating revenue, with GTA+ subscriptions increasing 20% year-over-year. The delay extends the gap between mainline Grand Theft Auto releases to 13 years, the longest in franchise history. Rockstar stated the additional development time will allow the team to finish the game with expected polish levels. Take-Two’s stock experienced volatility following the announcement, with shares declining in after-hours trading before partially recovering.
The information about the delay was provided through Take-Two’s official earnings report and Rockstar Games’ social media announcement. The game will be set in the fictional state of Leonida, featuring a return to Vice City with protagonists Jason and Lucia. For additional coverage, readers can view GTA Plus updates and earnings analysis, or explore other gaming news including recent crossover events.