Take-Two CEO: GTA 6 Delay to 2026 Ensures Rockstar's Creative Vision

Back in February, I had the opportunity to discuss with Strauss Zelnick, the head of Take-Two, about their confidence in meeting the fall 2025 release window for GTA 6. At the time, he expressed a strong sense of assurance, stating he felt “really good about it.” However, just three months later, GTA 6 was postponed to May 26, 2026, a move that surprised few in the industry.

Curious about the reasons behind this delay, I recently followed up with Zelnick during an interview aligned with Take-Two's latest financial disclosures. He explained that as the game neared its initial release date, it became evident that additional time was needed for further refinement. Zelnick emphasized, “As we get closer to completion of a title that’s seeking perfection, the needs or lack thereof, for continued polish become clear. 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.”

The delay pushes GTA 6's release outside of Take-Two's current fiscal year, impacting short-term financial projections. Despite this, Zelnick remains optimistic about the company's future lineup, which includes titles such as Gearbox’s Borderlands 4, Hangar 13’s Mafia: The Old Country, and new entries in the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series. He stated, “I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today. And while of course, delays pain me — how could they not? — the most important thing to do is to support your teams in their search for perfection.”

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When pressed about the new release date of May 26, 2026, Zelnick appeared even more confident than before, commenting, “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 in the world of game development, one can never be completely certain.

The release of GTA 6 Trailer 2, along with additional information from Rockstar, has fueled widespread speculation among fans. Some enthusiasts are even theorizing that Liberty City might make an appearance in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC.

As we eagerly await more updates, there's plenty to explore about GTA 6. From all the details we’ve discovered so far, to a collection of 70 brand new screenshots, and expert insights on how GTA 6 will look on PS5 Pro, the excitement continues to build for what is poised to be the biggest video game release of all time.