Back in February, I had the opportunity to speak with Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, about the confidence surrounding the then-anticipated fall 2025 release of Grand Theft Auto 6. At that time, Zelnick expressed his strong belief in meeting the deadline, stating he felt "really good about it." However, as we moved into May, the game's release was officially postponed to May 26, 2026, a development that perhaps didn't surprise many.
During a recent interview coinciding with Take-Two’s latest financial results, I asked Zelnick what had shifted in those intervening months. He explained that as GTA 6 approached its initial launch window, the necessity for additional refinement became apparent. "As we get closer to completion of a title that’s seeking perfection, the needs or lack thereof, for continued polish become clear," Zelnick remarked. He emphasized the importance of allowing Rockstar Games the extra time needed to fully realize their creative vision without any compromises. "In this case, there was an opportunity with a small amount of incremental time, we thought, to make sure Rockstar Games achieves its creative vision with no limitations. And I supported, of course, that approach."
While the delay pushes GTA 6’s release beyond Take-Two’s current fiscal year, impacting short-term financial projections, Zelnick remains optimistic about the company’s future lineup. He highlighted upcoming titles such as Gearbox’s Borderlands 4, Hangar 13’s Mafia: The Old Country, and new additions to the NBA 2K and WWE 2K franchises. "I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today," he stated, acknowledging the disappointment of delays but emphasizing the priority of supporting teams in their pursuit of perfection.
GTA 6 Jason Duval Screenshots
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The natural follow-up question was how confident Zelnick is now about hitting the new release date of May 26, 2026. This time, his response carried even more conviction: "I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it." This statement suggests a strong commitment to the new timeline, hinting that further delays are unlikely, though, as always, one can never say never. With a concrete release date set, any additional slip would indeed be a significant surprise.
The release of the second GTA 6 trailer and Rockstar's subsequent information release have fueled a flurry of speculation about the game's content. Some enthusiasts speculate that Liberty City might feature in GTA 6, either at launch or through post-launch downloadable content (DLC).
As anticipation builds, there's no shortage of information for fans to delve into. From all the details we’ve discovered so far, a collection of 70 brand new screenshots, to the expert opinion on how GTA 6 will look on PS5 Pro, there’s plenty to explore while we await the next big update on Grand Theft Auto 6.
