Grand Theft Auto VI delayed again, now scheduled for November 2026

Labor group organizes protests following recent Rockstar Games firings

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Highly anticipated: Grand Theft Auto IV, arguably the most anticipated game of all time, has suffered its second delay. When Rockstar first revealed the game in late 2023, it was set to launch right about now. With the newest schedule, the total delay amounts to a full year.

In a brief statement, Rockstar Games announced that Grand Theft Auto VI has been pushed back to November 19, 2026, to give the game extra polish. Following the announcement, Take-Two Interactive's stock fell 14 percent in after-hours trading before recovering slightly to close at a six percent loss.

GTA 6 was previously set to launch on May 26, 2026, after its first delay earlier this year. With this second postponement, its development cycle is starting to resemble that of Red Dead Redemption II. That title was originally slated for release in late 2017, delayed to spring 2018, and ultimately launched in October of that year. Perhaps the third release date will prove to be the charm for Rockstar once again.

The latest delay is particularly worrying for PC players, as Rockstar has yet to confirm a PC release. The company typically announces and launches PC versions after PlayStation and Xbox releases. GTA V arrived on PC two years after its console debut, while Red Dead Redemption II followed with a 13-month delay. Based on this trend, a PC version of GTA 6 may not arrive until late 2027 or even 2028.

Rockstar has also drawn recent criticism after firing between 30 and 40 employees, prompting accusations of union busting. The company maintains that the staff were dismissed for leaking confidential information. However, the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) stated that all affected employees were union members or individuals attempting to organize.

The IWGB later organized protests outside Rockstar North's Edinburgh office and Take-Two's London building, demanding reinstatement and back pay. According to an anonymous message from a former employee, staff were terminated without warning or evidence. They denied leaking company information, claiming they had only spoken with union organizers.

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Analysts expect GTA 6 to become the biggest entertainment release in history, potentially generating up to $8 billion within two months of launch. In a new earnings report, Take-Two confirmed that GTA V has over 220 million copies since its 2013 debut, making it the best-selling game of the past decade and likely the second-best-selling game of all time, behind only Minecraft.

Although some speculate that Rockstar could charge $100 for the standard edition of GTA 6, a recent survey suggests that $70 is the more likely price point.