Back in February, I had the chance to ask Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, about his confidence in meeting the then-anticipated fall 2025 release window for Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). At that time, Zelnick expressed strong confidence, stating he felt "really good about it." However, just three months later, as perhaps expected by many, the release of GTA 6 was postponed to May 26, 2026.
Curious about what led to this delay, I followed up with Zelnick in a recent interview, which coincided with the release of Take-Two's latest financial results. He explained that as the game neared its completion, the necessity for additional refinement became evident. "As we get closer to completion of a title that’s seeking perfection, the needs or lack thereof, for continued polish become clear," Zelnick remarked. He emphasized that the slight delay would allow Rockstar Games to fully realize their creative vision without any compromises, a decision he fully supported.
The delay pushes GTA 6's release into the next financial year, impacting Take-Two's short-term financial projections. Despite this, Zelnick remains optimistic about the company's upcoming lineup, which includes titles like Gearbox's Borderlands 4, Hangar 13's Mafia: The Old Country, and new entries in the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series. "I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today," he stated, adding that while delays are disappointing, supporting the teams in their quest for perfection is paramount.
GTA 6 Jason Duval Screenshots
View 6 Images
Given the new release date, I couldn't help but revisit my earlier question about Zelnick's confidence in hitting the May 26, 2026, target. This time, his response was even more reassuring: "I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it." This suggests a strong commitment to the new release date, though, as always, nothing is set in stone.
The release of the GTA 6 Trailer 2 and the accompanying information from Rockstar has ignited widespread speculation about the game's content. Enthusiasts are buzzing with theories, including the possibility of Liberty City appearing in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC.
As we eagerly await more details, there's plenty to explore about GTA 6, from the latest discoveries and a collection of 70 new screenshots to expert analyses on how the game will perform on the PS5 Pro.
