Why was GTA 6 delayed?

Both times, Rockstar gave the same reason: it needed more time to finish the game properly. In May 2025 it said the extra time was needed to deliver “at the level of quality you expect and deserve”, and apologised that the new date was later than fans had hoped.

The second delay, in November 2025, came with a similar line. Rockstar said the extra months would let it finish GTA 6 with “the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve”.

That's the full official explanation. Rockstar hasn't given any other reason, so claims that the PC version or anything else caused the delays aren't coming from Rockstar.

Source · www.rockstargames.comRockstar Newswire: November 19, 2026 announcement

Source · www.rockstargames.comRockstar Newswire: May 26, 2026 announcement

How many times has GTA 6 been delayed?

Twice. Trailer 1 promised 2025 without a specific day. On May 2, 2025, that became May 26, 2026. On November 6, 2025, the date moved again, this time to November 19, 2026.

GTA 6 delay timeline

GTA 6 from first announcement to launch
DateWhat happened
November 8, 2023 Sam Houser's letter for Rockstar's 25th anniversary says the first trailer arrives in early December
December 5, 2023 Trailer 1 lands: “Coming 2025 to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S”
May 2, 2025 First delay: new date May 26, 2026
May 6, 2025 Trailer 2 released
November 6, 2025 Second delay: new date November 19, 2026
June 25, 2026 Pre-orders open at midnight local time
August 27, 2026 An Extended Look premieres
November 12, 2026 Preload begins
November 19, 2026 Launch day
Jason and Lucia embracing in the swamp at sunset, with airboats and a helicopter behind them
Jason and Lucia embracing in the swamp at sunset, with airboats and a helicopter behind them · Image: Rockstar Games
Source / rights
Image / usage information: © Rockstar Games / Take-Two Interactive. Resmi Grand Theft Auto VI ekran görüntüsü. · Image source ↗

Will GTA 6 be delayed again?

Rockstar hasn't announced anything past November 19, 2026. That date is still on the GTA VI site and on the PlayStation and Xbox store pages.

The launch machinery is also running. Pre-orders went live on June 25, 2026, An Extended Look aired on August 27, and preload starts November 12. Both earlier delays were posted on the Rockstar Newswire, so that's the place to watch if anything changes.

When does GTA 6 come out now?

November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The store pages unlock it at midnight local time, which works out to 00:00 ET (05:00 UTC) in the US and 00:00 UTC in the UK.

FAQ

Did the PC version cause the GTA 6 delay?
There's no statement saying so. Rockstar's two delay posts only talk about quality and polish, and a PC version hasn't been announced at all.
What happens to my pre-order if GTA 6 is delayed again?
Rockstar hasn't announced another delay, so there's no statement on that. If you'd rather cancel, the steps differ on PlayStation and Xbox; the cancellation guide below walks through both.
When was GTA 6 originally supposed to come out?
In 2025. That's the year Trailer 1 gave in December 2023, with no exact day attached.

Related guides