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| Strauss Zelnick’s Promises Not to Delay GTA 6 Again |
Profit Takes Priority Over Promises!
Last week, Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 would be delayed until 2026. To help ease fan disappointment, the company took two strategic steps: first, announcing a specific release window, and second, unveiling an extended trailer packed with exciting new details that captured widespread attention.
This approach not only helped fans come to terms with the delay, but also maintained stability in Take Two’s stock value. In fact, the stock even saw noticeable gains at times, fueled by the hype surrounding the game’s features, mechanics, and characters.
Speculation Grows Around a Potential Further Delay
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However, now that the initial shock has worn off and the fanbase has thoroughly analyzed the new information, a question is starting to emerge: Could GTA 6 be delayed again beyond the newly announced date?
The proposed release date May 26, 2026 raises eyebrows. It doesn’t align with Rockstar’s typical release strategy, particularly for the Grand Theft Auto series, which traditionally launches during the holiday season in the final quarter of the year.
Despite this, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick publicly assured that no further delays would occur and that the company is committed to the 2026 release window. But how binding are such assurances?
The reality is, not very. At the end of the day, corporate interests and shareholder value take precedence. If a public promise can help stabilize stock prices or protect investor confidence, it will be made even if plans change later. In other words, Zelnick’s assurances may be more about calming the market than guaranteeing a firm release date. A further delay pushing the game into late 2026 remains a possibility.
It appears Rockstar and Take Two are managing the news carefully to avoid major negative impacts on stock performance. A one year delay is easier to accept than an 18 month or longer postponement announced all at once. The companies seem to be guiding fans step by step toward the final release date, while minimizing financial fallout.
What About the Multiplayer Mode?
Another point of interest is that, according to Zelnick, full development on GTA VI began in 2020 just five years ago. Given Rockstar’s reputation for high quality, ambitious titles, more time may be needed to fully polish the game and ensure a technically sound launch.
Then there's the matter of the multiplayer component, a key part of the GTA formula and a massive revenue driver for the company. So far, Rockstar has revealed nothing about the online mode. It's likely we won’t hear anything until 2025. This silence could indicate that the online mode is still under development, and may even factor into a potential delay to ensure the full game including online features is ready at launch.
While Rockstar could follow the GTA 5 model of releasing single player first and online later, this time might be different. The company may want to start generating revenue from day one, making a simultaneous launch of both modes more likely.
All things considered, Zelnick’s statements shouldn't be seen as ironclad guarantees. Another delay is still on the table something fans hope to avoid, but must be prepared for nonetheless.