Rockstar Games has once again pushed back the release of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI), setting its new launch date for November 19, 2026. The move is the latest in a series of delays for the highly anticipated title, which was initially expected in 2025 and later moved to May 26, 2026.
In an official statement, Rockstar Games apologized to fans for the prolonged wait but emphasized the decision was made in the pursuit of quality. The extra months, the company said, “will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve.” The studio expressed excitement for players to finally experience the game’s setting: the sprawling fictional state of Leonida and a return to a modern-day Vice City.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, whose company is the publisher, backed Rockstar’s decision. Zelnick told The Game Business that the delay aligns with the company’s commitment that “if a game requires more polish to be the best possible version of itself, then we will give that game more time.” He confirmed the new November release date is a “great release window” that keeps the game within the same fiscal year.
The game is confirmed for release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S. The story will center on two protagonists, the romantically-linked criminals Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos—with Lucia being the series’s first non-optional female protagonist.
According to Rockstar’s description from the second trailer, the duo will find themselves caught up in a criminal conspiracy that stretches across the state of Leonida after an “easy score goes wrong,” forcing them to rely on each other to survive.
The delay comes shortly after the studio faced accusations of union busting following the firing of approximately 30 to 40 employees. A Rockstar spokesperson countered the claims, stating that the action was taken against individuals who were “distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum” and was “in no way related” to employees’ right to engage in union activities.