Take-Two CEO on GTA 6 Delay: 'Painful but Necessary for Creative Vision'

Back in February, I had the chance to ask Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, about his confidence in meeting the fall 2025 release window for GTA 6. At the time, he expressed strong confidence, stating he felt "really good about it." However, as we all know, plans can change, and just three months later, GTA 6's release was pushed back to May 26, 2026.

Curious about what led to this shift, I followed up with Zelnick in a recent interview tied to Take-Two’s newly released financial results. He explained that as the game approached its initial release date, the need for additional polish became evident.

“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. “In this case, there was an opportunity with a small amount of incremental time, we thought, to make sure Rockstar Games achieves its creative vision with no limitations. And I supported that approach wholeheartedly.”

The delay of GTA 6 beyond Take-Two’s current fiscal year and into the next one certainly impacts the company’s short-term financial outlook. However, Zelnick remains optimistic about the company's future, citing upcoming releases like Gearbox’s Borderlands 4, Hangar 13’s Mafia: The Old Country, and new entries in the NBA 2K and WWE 2K franchises.

“I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today,” he stated. “While delays are never easy — how could they not be? — the most important thing is to support our teams in their pursuit of perfection.”

GTA 6 Jason Duval Screenshots

View 6 ImagesGiven this context, I couldn't help but revisit my earlier question: how confident is Zelnick that Rockstar will meet the new release date of May 26, 2026? This time, his response carried even more conviction:

“I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it.”

To me, this suggests a strong belief that GTA 6 will not face further delays, though as always, nothing is set in stone. With an official release date now set, another slip would indeed be surprising.

The excitement surrounding GTA 6 has only grown with the release of Trailer 2 and additional information from Rockstar, fueling speculation about the game's content. Some fans are even theorizing that Liberty City might make an appearance in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC.

As we eagerly await more news, there's no shortage of content to explore. Dive into all the details we’ve discovered so far, check out a collection of 70 brand new screenshots, and read the expert opinion on how GTA 6 will look on PS5 Pro.