Why Is GTA 6 Delayed: The Long Wait Explained

October 9, 2024 By Nick Anderson No Comments 6 minutes

Ever since the release of the GTA 6 trailer, fans have been blitzing the internet with questions. And because of some unfortunate rumor, everyone is asking why GTA 6 is delayed. Before your blood pressure rises, please know that GTA is not delayed and will be released according to the official schedule.

GTA 6 is delayed banner with protagonist Lucia in the frame

One of the many reasons why fans are worried is because GTA 6 is releasing a whole decade after GTA 5. We got the scoop for you by snooping around Rockstar’s official forums and reading heaps of press releases.

Note: GTA 6 is not delayed and will release according to schedule in the fall of 2025. The clock is ticking, demand is rising, and if you don’t want to miss out on the first launch, get FastestVPN. With our worldwide servers, you can get the game from retailers in regions where demand is low.

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When did the GTA 6 development begin?

The makers of the GTA series have always been tight lipped about the projects. But they’ve stitched together a timeline that indicates the so-called GTA 6 has been in the works for at least a decade.

As for when they started working on GTA 6, Rockstar has never officially confirmed that, but rumors started swirling in 2014, just after GTA 5 had come out. When it comes to game development, especially for a game of this size, the conceptualization and preproduction often start long before the real development starts up.

Considering Rockstar’s track record and scale of the projects they produce, it’s no surprise that GTA 6 has been simmering for so long. The studio has a reputation for its attention to detail, and in terms of innovation, that means it takes time to get right.

Why is GTA 6 Taking so Long?

The reasons behind GTA 6’s extended development are multifaceted:

Technological advancements: The possibilities for game developers as gaming hardware evolves. Rockstar probably wants to harness the full power that next-gen consoles and top end PCs can offer, which takes time to learn new tech and roll out fresh features. Some people are saying that GTA 6 crossplay is the reason for the delay.
Expanding scope: Every GTA title has served to revolutionize open world gaming. The new GTA 6 map is taking things a step ahead, with a map twice the size of GTA 5. Naturally, this means that the development timeline remains, at least, a little further from the horizon.
Quality control: Rockstar has set an insanely high bar for itself. There is immense pressure to deliver a game that’s not only perfect, but better than what people expected, and so you find yourselves in round after round of testing, refinement, and polishing.
Changing industry landscape: One of the interesting thing of the gaming industry was drastic shifts in the last 4 years. Rockstar is likely adapting its approach to ensure GTA 6 stays relevant and profitable within this new ecosystem.
COVID-19 impact: Game development was one of the industries disrupted by the global pandemic. It is likely that remote work and new safety protocols resulted in the development process slowing down. It could be one of the reasons why the GTA 6 release date has been pushed to 2025.

GTA 6 delayed: A closer look at the timeline

Fans have heard the phrase ‘GTA 6 delayed’ quite a bit. But when we haven’t had an official release date from the start, what does this really mean? Let’s break it down:

2018-2019: There were early rumors of a 2020 release.
2020: It wasn’t to be a 2020 release as 2020 slipped by.
2021: A 2022 or 2023 release window was tipped as a new speculation.
2022: GTA 6 was in active development, Rockstar finally confirmed that but refused to release a release date.
2023: Early footage leaked in a massive leak but also suggested a release could be far away, as far out as 2025.

Obviously, these shifts in expectation could also be thought of as a ‘delay’ regardless of whether or not Rockstar ever officially delayed announced dates.

Is GTA 6 getting delayed? Current Rumors

It’s difficult to say definitively without an official release date. Yet industry analysts and insiders persist in speculating about when it might be released. It wouldn’t be off-point for Rockstar to delay a game only a few weeks before the release date.

The most recent, credible rumors have suggested the new GTA 6 may be headed for a Fall 2025 release. These reports come from the official Rockstar annual report of 2024. All of this is so speculative, but remember, nothing until Rockstar makes an official announcement.

How Many Times Has GTA 6 Been Delayed?

Technically speaking it’s a tricky question as to how many times GTA 6 has been delayed. We just can’t pin a specific delay because Rockstar hasn’t officially pulled the plug on release dates or made any announcements. The project was under wraps until September 2023, so no one knows how many delays it has had.

But if you look at all the rumors and shifting expectations over the years, you could argue that GTA 6 has been ‘delayed’, many times over in the court of public perception.

Did GTA 6 Get Delayed to 2026?

Right now, there is no data to prove that GTA 6 has been delayed to 2026. According to the official Rockstar report of 2024, they are planning for a fall 2025 release. The game launching before 2026 isn’t wholly out of the question, but it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility, either, judging by the majority of the industry’s insiders.

Gamers are worried that Rockstar might delay GTA 6 because of changing trends. Fruthermore, Rockstar only released the GTA 6 trailer because of a leak and immense pressure. It wouldn’t be unusual for Rockstar to delay their games, but there are no pointers in that direction right now.

FAQs - GTA 6 Delays and More

Is GTA 6 delayed to 2026?

No, GTA 6 is not being delayed to 2026. According to Rockstar's official report, GTA 6 is releasing in the fall of 2025. Considering how much Rockstar values its face and doesn't overpromise, it is hard to believe that they will delay GTA 6 to 2026.

Why did GTA 6 take so long?

According to Teapotuberhacker, GTA 6 has been in development since 2013. The game took so long to develop because Rockstar was focused on the development of other franchises. Simultaneously, Rockstar did not want to take the spotlight away from GTA 5, which is the second most sold game in history.

Will GTA 6 be available on older consoles like PS4 and Xbox One?

No, GTA 6 is only available on modern consoles like the XBox Series X/S and the Play Station 5. Older consoles cannot run the game because of the upgraded functionalities, graphics, and processing power required to run GTA 6.

How long has GTA 6 been in development?

According to rumors and leaks, GTA 6 has been in development since 2014. There are no announcements about the game's development time, but the game has been extensively developed. In 2020, the developers pulled resources from other projects like RDR to work solely on GTA 6.

Conclusion: GTA 6 Is Not Being Delayed

We don’t know exactly when Rockstar will unleash GTA 6 in our direction, but we can definitely say Rockstar is dedicating its heart and soul into making GTA 6 something special.

According to current news, GTA 6 is not delayed and will release according to schedule in the fall of 2025. This news comes from the official annual 2024 report. While fans are worried the game could get delayed to 2026 because of past problems, there’s nothing they can do.

For now, we implore everyone to wait, watch, and prepare. You’ll have to compete for the game when it eventually releases, because demand is already high. Get FastestVPN to stay ahead of the curve and get the game while it’s hot.