Rehan Shahid 
Jan 09, 2026
As 2026 began, there were high expectations about Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 release date, which had been twice delayed before settling on its current release date of November 19, 2026.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated he is "highly confident" in the GTA 6 launch date, but fans are concerned over the possibility of GTA 6 being delayed a third time, considering the scope of the project and a lack of new updates from developer Rockstar Games.
According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, GTA 6 was not content complete the last he heard and could be delayed again, but added that the new release date felt more "real" and "solid". On this claim, missions, levels, and possibly features are still being finalised, even though the game is less than a year away from its planned launch.
While Rockstar Games has not detailed internal challenges, industry reporting highlights several recurring themes:
- Technical optimisation across current-generation consoles
- AI systems and NPC behaviour, exceeding previous GTA titles
- Complex narrative structures involving multiple protagonists
- Online integration plans that go beyond GTA Online’s original scope
- Ensuring long-term content scalability without compromising launch stability
These elements collectively increase development time and testing requirements.
Will GTA 6 release in 2026?
Earlier in May 2025, Rockstar Games publically delayed the GTA 6 release date for the first time, pushing the launch date to May 26, 2026. However, six months later, the developer company delayed GTA 6 launch a second time, pushing the release date of November 19, 2026.
Now, if seeing at the GTA 6 launch delays, then there are high chances that Rockstar Games might delay GTA 6 again, making it to launch later this year without any further major delays.
