GTA VI is scheduled to release in the Fall 2025 season, a date that could certainly have some fluidity. In other words, it's entirely possible that Take-Two and Rockstar won't meet their goal of a fall 2025 launch window for the game. Although that is possible, there is a good chance that there will be no delay. If you missed the initial statements, Take-Two Interactive recently held its latest earnings call and published its associated report on May 16.
In the report, Take-Two stated that they and Rockstar were looking for a fall 2025 release date for GTA VI, the franchise's next big game. This may not have been a big surprise. After all, in the official trailer released last December, Rockstar ended the trailer by saying that GTA VI would be “coming in 2025.” So this was a time frame that all viewers were already expecting. Of course, delays happen in this sector and there are numerous major projects that can serve as proof of this.
There was also some speculation that GTA VI could be delayed until 2026. This was based on analyst predictions, who based these predictions on expectations of a downward turn for Take-Two's 2025 budget reporting. Those predictions were also made about ten days before Take-Two officially confirmed the Fall 2025 release. And now the publisher is doubling that time frame.
Take-Two CEO says company is confident GTA VI will continue to release in Fall 2025
In a recent one interview with CNBC, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked about the release timing for GTA VI. Specifically, Zelnick was asked how the publisher knows what the timing will be creatively. 'Is it a judgement? Is it an obvious logistical call? Talking about the timing of the release,” said Carl Quintanilla of CNBC's 'Money Movers'. Zelnick responded by saying that there are elements that can be used to measure a game's release timing. Like bugs. Regarding the release of GTA VI, Zelnick says that “it's not really about bugs. It's about creating an experience that no one has seen before.”
Zelnick went on to say that while there are “slippages in the industry and Take-Two is not immune to them,” the company is very confident in the timing of a Fall 2025. release window. Therefore, the timing was moved back from 2025 to the Fall 2025.
Strauss Zelnick (CEO of Take-Two) was interviewed by CNBC on #GTA6
– The game has been postponed internally because rockstar is looking for perfection. It will be a game that no one has ever seen before. pic.twitter.com/6rMF374VgR
—Dyllie (@_Dyllie_) May 19, 2024
Aim high
GTA VI will undoubtedly be one of the most loved games in the gaming industry, it seems so far. It's certainly one of the most anticipated. And judging by fan reactions after last year's official trailer drop, it's a safe assumption that people will love it.
However, Take-Two and Zelnick set the bar high. Each new GTA release has introduced new elements and features. But for the most part, gameplay-wise, they're all pretty similar. GTA V was perhaps the most notable release thanks to the addition of GTA Online. People still play it to this day and GTA V initially came out on the PS3. More than 10 years ago. So it makes you wonder what GTA VI will contain that will allow it to deliver an experience unlike anything anyone has seen before.
Whatever that experience may be, fans can likely expect the GTA gameplay they've come to know and love, along with never-before-seen experiences.
