Skip to main content

GTA 6 is officially delayed, but we now have a firm release date

Lucia and her partner rob a store in GTA 6.
Rockstar Games

Rockstar has announced GTA 6 is delayed, while revealing the new release date the hotly anticipated game will actually be available.

The GTA 6 release date is set for May 26, 2026 – which is a considerable time after the original ‘Fall 2025’ timeframe we were given in the first GTA VI trailer which dropped way back in December 2023.

Recommended Videos

In what will be a blow to fans, Rockstar said in a statement that it’s “very sorry”, admitting the reason behind the decision was the studio needed “extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”

The new release date means gamers will have been waiting 12 years, eight months and nine days since the release of GTA 5 for GA 6 to finally arrive – assuming there are no further delays.

Exceeding expectations

The Rockstar statement goes on to say “with every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception.”

Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026. https://t.co/YgaIn1cYc8 pic.twitter.com/cyeK7GM6Ob

— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) May 2, 2025

While fans will no doubt be disappointed with the news of the delay, even if some were suspecting it might happen, the silver lining is that we now have an official GTA 6 release date we can circle in our calendars – even if it is 389 days away.

The hope is that with Rockstar having set an exact release rate we won’t see any more delays, but we can never totally rule it out.

Rockstar signs off by saying “we look forward to sharing more information with you soon”, so perhaps at second trailer may not be too far off? We’ll have to wait and see.

For now, why not give the GTA 6 trailer another watch. For old times sake. Just remember to close your eyes at 1:24 to avoid the “Coming 2025” text.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

John McCann
John is Managing Editor at Digital Trends. He's been a consumer technology & automotive journalist for over a decade.
5 key details we noticed in the first Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer
Lucia is interview in prison in Grand Theft Auto VI.

Rockstar finally dropped the first trailer for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 on Monday night after it leaked early. In less than 24 hours, it has already amassed over 77 million views. Outside of what's featured in the trailer, Rockstar isn't revealing much more about GTA 6. Rockstar Games founder Sam Houser simply stated in a press release that Rockstar wants to "push the limits of what’s possible in highly immersive, story-driven open-world experiences."

Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1

Read more
First Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer takes players back to Vice City
Lucia and her partner rob a store in GTA 6.

Watch Trailer 1: Tuesday, December 5 at 9AM ET

Rockstar Games finally dropped the first trailer for the next game in the Grand Theft Auto series, which is officially titled Grand Theft Auto VI. It's set to launch in 2025 and it'll take players back to Vice City.

Read more
Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer: when it’s coming and how to watch
A man drives away in a boat with stolen money in Grand Theft Auto 5 art.

Rockstar has confirmed exactly when it will drop the first trailer for the next mainline Grand Theft Auto game. It has been over a decade since the launch of Grand Theft Auto V, so excitement and hype surrounding the next GTA installment is at an all-time high. The release of Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 1 will be the biggest game reveal of 2023, so you don't want to miss it. Here's everything we know about when it'll air and how you can watch it.

When will Rockstar post GTA 6 Trailer 1?
Rockstar has confirmed that it will post "Trailer 1" for the next GTA game at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT on December 5. Make sure you don't oversleep Tuesday morning if you want to see the trailer right when it drops.
How to watch GTA 6 Trailer 1
Watch Trailer 1: Tuesday, December 5 at 9AM ET

Read more