Back in February, I had the opportunity to speak with Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, about the confidence surrounding the then-anticipated fall 2025 release of GTA 6. At that time, Zelnick expressed his optimism, stating he felt "really good about it." However, just three months later, as many might have predicted, the release of GTA 6 was postponed to May 26, 2026.

Curious about what had shifted in those few months, I revisited the topic with Zelnick during a recent interview, coinciding with Take-Two's latest financial disclosures. He explained that as the development of GTA 6 neared its final stages, the necessity for additional refinement became apparent. "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 with a modest extension of time, Rockstar Games could fully realize their creative vision without any compromises, a decision he wholeheartedly supported.

The shift of GTA 6's release date to outside of Take-Two's current fiscal year poses a temporary setback for the company's financial projections. Despite this, Zelnick remains enthusiastic about the company's upcoming lineup, which includes Gearbox's Borderlands 4, Hangar 13's Mafia: The Old Country, and new additions to the NBA 2K and WWE 2K franchises. "I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today," he stated. While acknowledging the disappointment that comes with delays, Zelnick stressed the importance of supporting the development teams in their pursuit of perfection.

GTA 6 Jason Duval Screenshots

View 6 Images

Revisiting the question of confidence in hitting the new release date of May 26, 2026, Zelnick's response was even more assured than before. He noted, "I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it." This statement suggests a strong belief in meeting the new deadline, although he didn't rule out the possibility of further delays completely. Given GTA 6 now has a set date, another delay would certainly be unexpected.

The release of GTA 6 Trailer 2, along with Rockstar's detailed information release, has ignited widespread speculation about what fans can expect from what is poised to be the most significant video game launch ever. Some GTA enthusiasts speculate that Liberty City might make an appearance in GTA 6, either at launch or as part of post-launch downloadable content.

While we eagerly await more news, there's plenty to explore on GTA 6, including all the insights we've gathered so far, a collection of 70 fresh screenshots, and expert analysis on how GTA 6 will perform on the PS5 Pro.