GTA 6 release timeline

From the first confirmation in February 2022 to launch day on 19 November 2026: every announcement, trailer, delay and business milestone, in order, with sources.

Every fact on this page comes from official Rockstar material or major outlets reporting on it. Numbers in brackets link to the sources at the bottom. Leaked material is never used.

GTA 6 was first targeted for 2025. It moved twice: to 26 May 2026, then to 19 November 2026. Along the way Rockstar released two trailers and a gameplay presentation that premiered on Netflix. It also opened pre-orders in June 2026.

1. 4 February 2022Rockstar confirms a new GTA is in development Announcement

   In a Newswire post about GTA V's longevity, Rockstar said for the first time that active development of the next Grand Theft Auto was well underway. No title, setting or platforms were given.^[1][2]

2. 27 July 2022Bloomberg reports on Rockstar culture shift Milestone

   Jason Schreier reported that Rockstar had worked to reduce crunch and change its workplace culture after 2018 criticism, and that the next GTA would include a female lead. This was reporting, not a Rockstar announcement.^[3][4]

3. 18 September 2022Major leak of early development footage Milestone

   Early work-in-progress footage of the next GTA was posted online after a network intrusion. On September 19 Rockstar confirmed the breach, said it was extremely disappointed, and stated that development would continue as planned.^[5][6][7]

4. 8 November 2023First trailer promised for early December Announcement

   Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser posted a statement marking the studio's 25th anniversary and said the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto would arrive in early December 2023.^[8][9][10]

5. 28 November 2023Trailer 1 date set for December 5 Announcement

   Rockstar gave the trailer a specific slot: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 9 AM ET.^[11]

6. 4 December 2023Trailer 1 released early after leak Trailer

   After the trailer leaked online the evening before its scheduled premiere, Rockstar published it early on December 4 (US time). It officially named the game Grand Theft Auto VI, set in Vice City in the state of Leonida, and gave a 2025 window for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It passed 90 million YouTube views in 24 hours, a record for a non-music video at the time.^{[12][13][14][15]}

7. 2 May 2025First delay: May 26, 2026 Delay

   Rockstar moved GTA VI from its fall 2025 window to a specific date of May 26, 2026 and apologised that the wait would be longer than fans expected. Take-Two shares fell on the news.^[16][17][18]

8. 6 May 2025Trailer 2 and expanded website Trailer

   Rockstar released Trailer 2 alongside a large update to the official GTA VI site with character and location information and screenshots. Rockstar said the trailer was captured in-game on PS5 and reached about 475 million views across platforms in its first 24 hours.^{[19][20][21][22][23]}

9. 31 October 2025Rockstar staff firings draw union-busting accusations Business

   Bloomberg reported that Rockstar dismissed between 30 and 40 staff in the UK and Canada. The IWGB union called it union busting; Rockstar said the workers were fired for sharing confidential information in a public forum.^[24][25][26]

10. 6 November 2025Second delay: November 19, 2026 Delay

    Rockstar pushed the launch from May 26 to November 19, 2026, saying the extra months were needed to reach the level of polish players expect. The news came alongside Take-Two's fiscal Q2 2026 results, and the stock fell.^{[27][28][29][30][31]}

11. 9 January 2026False delay rumours move Take-Two stock Business

    Bloomberg's Jason Schreier reported that Take-Two shares fell on delay claims he described as misinformation. The November 19 date did not change.^[32]

12. 3 February 2026Take-Two fiscal Q3 2026 results reaffirm date Business

    Take-Two's third-quarter release again pointed to the November 19 launch of GTA VI as the driver of record results expected in fiscal 2027.^[33]

13. 21 May 2026Take-Two fiscal 2026 results; marketing 'this summer' Business

    Take-Two kept the November 19 date and gave fiscal 2027 net bookings guidance of $8.0 to $8.2 billion. CEO Strauss Zelnick told press that GTA VI marketing would start in the summer.^[34][35][36]

14. 18 June 2026Box art revealed; pre-order date set Pre-orders

    Rockstar revealed the official cover art and said pre-orders would open on June 25 at digital storefronts and selected retailers. Take-Two stock rose on the news.^[37][38][39]

15. 24 June 2026Price, Ultimate Edition and bonuses revealed Pre-orders

    Rockstar set the price at $79.99 for the standard edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition, confirmed a Vintage Vice City Pack pre-order bonus, and said physical copies would hold a download code rather than a disc. Sony's PlayStation Blog added a free month of GTA+ for PlayStation Store pre-orders and PS5-specific feature details.^{[40][41][42][43][44]}

16. 25 June 2026Pre-orders open Pre-orders

    Pre-orders opened at midnight local time on PlayStation Store, Xbox Store and at retailers, for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.^[40][45][46]

17. 6 August 2026Take-Two calls pre-orders 'unprecedented' Business

    Take-Two's first report covering the pre-order period showed $1.39 billion in net bookings and kept its $8.0 to $8.2 billion fiscal 2027 outlook. Zelnick described pre-order demand as unprecedented but gave no unit numbers.^[47][48][49]

18. 21 August 2026New leaks reported Milestone

    Bloomberg reported that more unauthorised gameplay clips had appeared online and that Take-Two was pursuing legal steps to identify the source. This site does not host or describe leaked material.^[50]

19. 27 August 2026'An Extended Look' premieres on Netflix Trailer

    A roughly 26 to 27 minute gameplay-focused special, captured on PS5, debuted on Netflix and went to Rockstar's own channels six hours later. Media previews from hands-off sessions at Rockstar were published the same day.^{[51][52][53][54][55]}

20. 3 September 2026Limited-edition GTA VI DualSense controllers Milestone

    Sony announced two GTA VI-themed DualSense controllers (black and white) for release with the game on November 19, with pre-orders from September 10.^[56][57]

21. 17 September 2026Zelnick on PC at Take-Two AGM Business

    At the annual shareholder meeting Zelnick said PC is becoming more important to Take-Two over time. He did not announce a PC version or date for GTA VI.^[58]

22. 19 November 2026Scheduled launch (upcoming) Milestone

    GTA VI is scheduled to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Physical code-in-box copies and digital pre-loading are due from November 12.^[27][59]

What Take-Two has said

Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, discusses GTA 6 in its quarterly results. These are the statements that shaped expectations:

• 15 May 2025: After the first delay, Zelnick said Take-Two was highly confident Rockstar would deliver and that its commercial expectations for the game kept rising. He did not apologise for the delay and said the extra time was worth it.^[18]
• 6 November 2025: Take-Two announced the move to November 19, 2026 with its fiscal Q2 results. Zelnick said the company would give a game more time if it needed more polish, and that the new date was a strong window in the same fiscal year.^[28][29][31]
• 3 February 2026: The fiscal Q3 2026 release again said the November 19 launch would drive record results in fiscal 2027.^[33]
• 4 May 2026: Speaking to Bloomberg, Zelnick called the expectations for GTA VI both exciting and terrifying, and said the goal was to give players something they had never experienced before.^[60]
• 21 May 2026: With fiscal 2026 results, Take-Two guided $8.0 to $8.2 billion in fiscal 2027 net bookings, built around the November 19 launch. Zelnick said marketing would start in the summer and that Take-Two only spends on marketing when a release is close.^[34][35][36]
• 6 August 2026: The fiscal Q1 2027 results (the quarter that included the first five days of pre-orders) showed $1.39B in net bookings, with the fiscal 2027 outlook unchanged. Zelnick called pre-order demand unprecedented but gave no numbers.^[47][48][49]
• 17 September 2026: At the annual meeting Zelnick said Take-Two aims to launch on platforms with a meaningful audience and that PC keeps getting more important. He did not confirm a PC version of GTA VI.^[58]

Related: platforms, editions and pre-orders · confirmed vs rumoured · trailers

Sources

1. Grand Theft Auto 6 development is 'well underway', Rockstar says (VGC, 2022-02-04)
2. Rockstar Games: active development for the next entry is well underway (Gematsu, 2022-02-04)
3. Rockstar Games Cleaned Up Its Frat-Boy Culture - and Grand Theft Auto, Too (Bloomberg (Jason Schreier), 2022-07-27)
4. Grand Theft Auto VI Will Have Female Main Character for First Time (Bloomberg (Jason Schreier), 2022-07-27)
5. 'GTA 6' Leak: Rockstar Games Confirms Hack, Says It's 'Extremely Disappointed' (Variety, 2022-09-19)
6. Rockstar Games confirms GTA 6 footage leak (TechCrunch, 2022-09-19)
7. Grand Theft Auto VI Leak Is a Shock to Rockstar Games (Bloomberg (Jason Schreier), 2022-09-19)
8. Sam Houser statement on first trailer (X post) (Rockstar Games on X, 2023-11-08) official
9. GTA 6 Trailer Coming In December, Rockstar Confirms (GameSpot, 2023-11-08)
10. Rockstar Plans to Announce Much Anticipated 'Grand Theft Auto VI' (Bloomberg (Jason Schreier), 2023-11-08)
11. GTA 6 trailer coming on December 5, Rockstar confirms (TechRadar, 2023-11-28)
12. Grand Theft Auto VI - Watch Trailer 1 Now (Rockstar Newswire, 2023-12-04) official
13. 'Grand Theft Auto VI' Coming in 2025, Rockstar Says After Trailer Leak (Bloomberg, 2023-12-04)
14. The GTA 6 Trailer Is Already Breaking World Records (Kotaku, 2023-12-06)
15. Grand Theft Auto VI trailer breaks MrBeast's record for most YouTube views in 24 hours (TechCrunch, 2023-12-05)
16. Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Coming May 26, 2026 (Rockstar Games Newswire, 2025-05-02) official
17. 'GTA 6' Release Date Set for May 2026, Rockstar Apologizes for Delay (Variety, 2025-05-02)
18. Take-Two shares drop after company delays 'GTA VI' release to May 2026 (CNBC, 2025-05-02)
19. Grand Theft Auto VI — Watch Trailer 2 Now (Rockstar Newswire, 2025-05-06) official
20. Rockstar Games Releases Trailer 2 for Grand Theft Auto VI (Business Wire (Take-Two/Rockstar press release), 2025-05-06) official
21. Grand Theft Auto VI (official site) (Rockstar Games) official
22. The latest GTA 6 trailer racked up 475 million views in 24 hours (TechRadar, 2025-05)
23. Rockstar confirms the latest GTA 6 trailer was captured entirely in game on PS5 (TechRadar, 2025-05)
24. 'Grand Theft Auto' Studio Accused of Union Busting After Firings (Bloomberg, 2025-10-31)
25. 'Grand Theft Auto' Studio Says Fired Employees Were Leaking Information (Bloomberg, 2025-11-05)
26. Rockstar accused of union busting after firing dozens of employees (PC Gamer, 2025-10-31)
27. Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Set to Launch November 19, 2026 (Rockstar Games Newswire, 2025-11-06) official
28. Take-Two Reports Results for Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 (Form 8-K exhibit) (Take-Two Interactive / SEC, 2025-11-06) official
29. GTA 6 Delayed To November 2026, Take-Two Stock Tanks (GameSpot, 2025-11-06)
30. Grand Theft Auto VI Is Delayed to November 2026 (Bloomberg, 2025-11-06)
31. 'GTA 6' Release Delayed to November 2026 (Variety, 2025-11-06)
32. Take-Two Falls on 'Grand Theft Auto VI' Delay Misinformation (Bloomberg (Jason Schreier newsletter), 2026-01-09)
33. Take-Two Reports Results for Fiscal Third Quarter 2026 (Take-Two Interactive via Business Wire, 2026-02-03) official
34. Take-Two Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2026 (Take-Two Interactive (IR), 2026-05-21) official
35. GTA 6 Still On Track For November Release, Marketing Campaign Kicks Off This Summer (GameSpot, 2026)
36. GTA 6 marketing will officially kick off this summer; Take-Two CEO sure it won't be delayed again (TechRadar, 2026)
37. Pre-Order Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25 (Rockstar Games Newswire, 2026-06-24) official
38. Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Orders Begin June 25 Ahead of November Release (Bloomberg, 2026-06-18)
39. GTA 6 Preorders Begin June 25, Cover Art Revealed; Take-Two Stock Jumps (GameSpot, 2026-06-18)
40. Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Orders Begin on June 25 (Rockstar Games Newswire, 2026-06-24) official
41. Grand Theft Auto VI Price And Ultimate Edition Revealed, Physical Version Will Not Include A Disc (Game Informer, 2026-06-24)
42. Rockstar Confirms 'GTA 6' $80 Price, Preorder Time And Bonuses (Forbes (Paul Tassi), 2026-06-24)
43. 'Grand Theft Auto VI' Pricing Finally Revealed (The Hollywood Reporter, 2026-06-24)
44. Grand Theft Auto VI plays best on PS5 November 19 (PlayStation.Blog, 2026-06-24) official
45. Grand Theft Auto VI (PlayStation Store product page) (PlayStation Store) official
46. Buy Grand Theft Auto VI (Xbox Store) (Xbox / Microsoft Store) official
47. Take-Two Reports Results for Fiscal First Quarter 2027 (Take-Two Interactive (IR), 2026-08-06) official
48. GTA 6 Preorder Sales 'Unprecedented,' Take-Two Earnings Revealed (Variety, 2026-08-06)
49. GTA 6 Pre-Orders Are 'Exceptional' So Far, Says Take-Two Boss (Push Square, 2026-08)
50. Rockstar Rattled As 'Grand Theft Auto VI' Leaks Again (Bloomberg (Jason Schreier newsletter), 2026-08-21)
51. Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look (Rockstar Newswire, 2026-08-06) official
52. Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look — Now Playing (Rockstar Newswire, 2026-08-27) official
53. Grand Theft Auto VI: Extended Trailer, First Look, Release Date (Netflix Tudum, 2026-08)
54. GTA 6 Launches Netflix Trailer, Extended Look Release (Variety, 2026-08)
55. Roundup: The First Hands-Off Previews Are Starting To Roll In For GTA 6 (Pure Xbox, 2026-08-27)
56. New Limited Edition GTA VI PlayStation 5 DualSense Controllers Announced (PlayStation LifeStyle, 2026-09-03)
57. GTA 6 is getting two custom PS5 DualSense controllers (VGC, 2026-09)
58. 'The PC platform is becoming more and more important,' Take-Two chief says (PC Gamer, 2026-09)
59. GTA 6 Preloading: Start Date And What To Know About Digital And Physical Copies (GameSpot, 2026)
60. Take-Two CEO Says 'Grand Theft Auto VI' Expectations Are 'Terrifying' (Bloomberg, 2026-05-04)

We summarise facts in our own words and link every source. Short quotes are credited.