Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has commented on GTA 6‘s recent delay, confirming the push was less than six months, while he stressed that another delay is unlikely.
Speaking to CNBC, Zelnick said GTA 6’s delay was “pretty short,” amounting to “less than six months.”
GTA 6’s new release date is May 26, 2026. Six months prior to that is November 26, 2025. Rockstar never confirmed a specific GTA 6 release date, only stating that it would come out in Fall 2025. If the delay was less than six months, as Zelnick said, this suggests the company was originally eyeing a late-November or December release date for GTA 6. But of course, nothing is absolutely confirmed on that front.
Now that GTA 6 has a specific release date, Zelnick said it’s unlikely that the game will be delayed again. “Generally, when we announce a date, we’re able to hit that date,” he said.
A delay for GTA 6 was always likely, as every Rockstar game in the past 10+ years has been delayed. It is indeed true that when Take-Two announces a specific date–not a vague release window–that the company sticks to its plans. That’s not always true, though. GTA V’s PS5 and Xbox Series X|S edition, for example, was given a November 11, 2021 release date before shifting to March 2022.
For GTA 6, Zelnick said Rockstar’s ambition to create something truly special is an effort that takes time.
“Rockstar is trying to create the best thing anyone has ever seen in entertainment. Not just interactive entertainment. That’s a tall order,” he added.
“I don’t play video games”
Also in the interview, Zelnick was asked if he’s played GTA 6. He apparently has not, as the executive replied, “I’m not a gamer. I don’t play video games.”
Zelnick said he does share his opinions “pretty openly” about what he sees with regards to game designs and concepts. However, he said his job as Take-Two’s CEO is to attract, motivate, and retain the video game industry’s best talent, and then to “get out of their way.”
In other Rockstar news, it’s been reported that the studio may be working on ports of GTA 4 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S and Red Dead Redemption II for Switch 2.
