The inventive workforce behind the favored “Grand Theft Auto” online game sequence postponed the launch of the newest installment by a number of months to May 2026, hitting shares of mother or father Take-Two Interactive.
“Grand Theft Auto VI” was initially on account of be launched later this yr, with a trailer having proven that it could be set in Miami-like Vice City and would characteristic a playable feminine protagonist for the primary time.
“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected,” writer Rockstar Games stated in a press release.
“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,” it stated. “We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”
Its predecessor, “GTA V,” was launched in 2013 and offered greater than 200 million copies.
Beyond simply Rockstar Games, the entire trade is laser targeted on the “GTA” launch at a time when the sector has been experiencing stalled development after driving excessive on the covid-related confinements to interrupt gross sales data.
Strauss Zelnick, chief govt of Take-Two, supported the transfer in a press release launched by the mother or father firm.
“While we take the movement of our titles seriously and appreciate the vast and deep global anticipation for ‘Grand Theft Auto VI,’ we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence,” Zelnick stated.
The first trailer for “GTA VI” appeared in December 2023 and has been seen greater than 250 million instances on Rockstar’s YouTube channel.
Analysts largely agreed that the delay was not a shock and welcomed that an precise launch date was now on the books.
“While some investors may view this as a delay from the previously suggested ‘fall 2025’ window, the announcement aligns closely with our expectations and should not come as a surprise,” stated analyst Mike Hickey of Benchmark.
“Consistent with Rockstar’s track record, this timing reinforces their commitment to product quality over deadline adherence,” he added.
Set to the Tom Petty music “Love Is A Long Road,” it opens with a feminine character named Lucia being launched from jail in what seems to be a fictionalized model of Florida.
Near the shut of the one-minute-and-30-second clip, she tells her male companion in crime: “The only way we are going to get through this is by sticking together, being a team.”
The pair go on to burst right into a retailer with pistols drawn and bandanas masking the decrease halves of their faces.
Fans noticed the scene as affirmation that rumors of a “Bonnie and Clyde” kind crime couple are coming true.
Along with its wild success, the “GTA” sequence has confronted criticism over its violent content material.
Critics have from the start accused “Grand Theft Auto” of glorifying violence and inspiring gamers to interact in legal conduct –- allegations rejected by New York-based Take-Two Interactive.
“GTA players” promote medicine, struggle, rob, go on automobile rampages and extra. Gameplay choices additionally included assaulting intercourse staff and going to strip golf equipment, elevating the ire of activists.
© 2025 AFP