Grand Theft Auto 6 is officially scheduled to release on November 19, 2026, Take-Two Interactive confirmed this week [1, 2, 3, 4]. The game's launch was pushed back about 18 months from its originally planned internal target in spring 2025, delaying from an anticipated May 2025 release [1, 2, 3, 4].
The original internal goal was for a spring 2025 release, while the public announcement had initially targeted fall 2025 before multiple delays pushed the timeline to May 2026 and ultimately November 2026 [1, 3]. "I think we’re about 18 months behind the original date... not much more than that," Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said [1]. When asked to confirm the current release date, Zelnick replied, "Well, no. November 19. I do know" [3].
The development budget for GTA 6 is estimated between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, making it one of the costliest games ever produced [1]. Zelnick described the Grand Theft Auto franchise as "one of the largest and most valuable entertainment IPs globally" [4]. He stressed the company has provided developer Rockstar Games with "unlimited financial, creative human resources" to ensure the game's quality [1].
Marketing efforts for GTA 6 will increase over the summer of 2026 to build momentum ahead of the November launch [1, 3]. Meanwhile, the continued popularity of GTA Online maintains player interest years after Grand Theft Auto 5’s release, supporting Take-Two’s broader ecosystem revenue [4].
The timeline of milestones includes the December 2023 debut of the first trailer and a second trailer released in May 2025. The original internal release target of May 2025 was postponed multiple times through fall 2025 and May 2026 before settling on the confirmed November 19, 2026 launch date [1, 2, 3, 4].
