Rockstar Games has officially announced that Grand Theft Auto 6 will now launch on May 26, 2026. After months of speculation and minimal communication, the developer broke its silence with a statement published across its social media platforms and the Rockstar Newswire. The announcement confirmed the delay and acknowledged fan anticipation, expressing gratitude while emphasizing the need for additional development time.

Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026. https://t.co/YgaIn1cYc8 pic.twitter.com/cyeK7GM6Ob

— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) May 2, 2025

This news ends a 514-day stretch without any official GTA 6 updates since the initial trailer on December 5, 2023. Unfortunately, the update came without any new visuals, trailers, or game details—just a revised release date and a message about quality expectations.

Social Media Reaction Explodes (Grand Theft Auto 6)

Within hours of the announcement, the internet lit up. The post on X (formerly Twitter) garnered over 30 million views, 500k likes, and tens of thousands of reposts and comments. The update has quickly become one of the most talked-about moments in gaming this year.

Despite the lack of new content in the update, the traffic and attention it received indicate the level of anticipation surrounding GTA 6. Fans and news outlets alike are now scrambling to analyze what this timeline shift means.

How Long Is the Delay?

Previously, Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive had communicated a fall 2025 release window, spanning from September 22 to December 21, 2025. With the revised date now confirmed as May 26, 2026, the delay ranges from 233 to 246 days, depending on the originally planned release within that fall window.

From today’s standpoint, fans face a wait of 389 more days—just over a year—before they can get their hands on the next installment of the Grand Theft Auto series. This makes the delay one of the most substantial in the franchise’s history, though not entirely unexpected given Rockstar’s reputation for perfectionism.

What’s Next for Grand Theft Auto 6?

Although the delay is disappointing, there is now a definitive release date, which could signal the start of Rockstar’s GTA 6 marketing cycle. With the release set for late May 2026, trailers, screenshots, and additional story details may soon begin rolling out.

The statement from Rockstar ended with a familiar phrase: “We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.” However, longtime followers know that “soon” in Rockstar terms could mean weeks—or months. Some are hopeful that Take-Two’s upcoming earnings call on May 15 might include more context, especially from CEO Strauss Zelnick, who may elaborate on the delay’s cause.

So far, Rockstar has only updated the GTA 6 logo on a black background without attaching the new release date, unlike the original announcement in 2023 that mentioned a 2025 launch. No new assets were released this time, diverging from Rockstar’s historical pattern. When Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA V were delayed, Rockstar accompanied the news with fresh screenshots and media. This time, the update is strictly minimal.

Waiting for the Next Reveal

It’s been over 500 days since Rockstar last communicated anything regarding Grand Theft Auto 6. Fans still have more questions than answers, especially with no gameplay footage, no new images, and now an additional year-long wait. Still, the confirmed release date helps manage expectations moving forward.

Whether marketing begins this summer or gets pushed to 2026, all signs point to a major reveal cycle on the horizon. Until then, players will be watching Rockstar’s every move closely.