Why the GTA 6 delay was important: Real reason revealed by Strauss Zelnick (Report)

Rockstar Games recently delayed the release of GTA 6 to May 2026 to the disappointment of the gaming community. The Grand Theft Auto sequel, arguably the most anticipated video game ever, was poised to come out during Fall 2025, but fans will now have to wait a bit more.

In an interview with IGN, Rockstar owner, Take-Two Interactive's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, clarified that the delay was to ensure Rockstar Games "achieves its creative vision with no limitations":

"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."

In the official GTA 6 delay announcement, the developer stated that extra time was required to ensure the level of quality that fans expect and deserve.

GTA 6 delay was important to ensure Rockstar achieves "its creative vision without limitations"

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Take-Two also held an earnings call on May 15, 2025, during which CEO Strauss Zelnick said that providing the additional time needed by Rockstar for GTA 6 is a "worthy investment".

"I believe affording Rockstar additional time for such a groundbreaking project is a worthy investment."

He followed by revealing that GTA 6 development began "in earnest" in 2020. In another statement, Zelnick labeled the upcoming Grand Theft Auto title's complexity as "greater" than that of any other game from the studio.

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Check out: GTA 5 sales cross a whopping 215+ million copies

Taking everything showcased by the two trailers and screenshots thus far, Grand Theft Auto 6 looks to be a significant leap ahead from previous Rockstar Games releases.

The new GTA 6 release date is May 26, 2026, and the game will be available on PlayStation 5, as well as Xbox Series X and S at launch. No information regarding a PC port has been provided officially yet.

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About the author

Suyash is an Esports and Gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who specializes in Rockstar Games' GTA franchise. Suyash uses in-depth research and knowledge of his immense experience with the game series to ensure readers have access to the most reliable information. His insightful content pieces have raked in more than 5 million views in just a little over a year's time.

Suyash holds a B.Tech degree and ventured into the world of gaming at a young age through the Prince of Persia Sands of Time trilogy. However, upon encountering GTA Vice City’s 1980s aesthetic, music, and vintage cars, he became enamored with the game, leading him to explore the rest of the franchise.

Suyash prefers solo titles to multiplayer, especially ones with a well-crafted story and character arcs. He admires journalist Jason Schreier for the respect he commands in the industry and the reliability of his news pieces. To ensure the accuracy of his own pieces, he checks multiple reputable sources and insiders.

If he were to recommend a game to a skeptic, it would be Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series. When he’s not roaming the streets of Los Santos in GTA V, you can find him playing football, watching movies, or working out.

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Edited by Sijo Samuel Paul