Rockstar Confirms GTA 6 Delay, Debunks September 2025 Rumors

The hype around GTA 6 seems unstoppable, but if you were banking on playing it next year, here’s a reality check. After a supposed online retail leak suggested a September 17, 2025 release, Rockstar Games stepped in and officially moved the launch to May 26, 2026. That fake leak from retailer X Uruguay got fans talking, but the whole thing unraveled fast—Wednesdays aren’t typical for major video game launches, and neither the timing nor the source made much sense.

Anyone who’s followed big releases knows Rockstar doesn’t just drop news like this through store listings. Their track record leans heavily on last-minute shifts and a careful, controlled reveal. This situation fits a familiar pattern. When Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, initially narrowed the release window for GTA 6 to autumn 2025, many expected a late-year blockbuster. Then, as fans started to believe those rumors, news broke that the coveted open-world adventure would need even more time.

Rockstar said the decision to push the release back was all about polish and quality. They officially apologized to their patient (and vocal) fanbase, stressing that extra development was needed to ensure the game meets their high standards. It’s a classic move for Rockstar. Their games aren’t just about pushing pixels—they’re changing what’s possible in the genre, and with that comes a whole lot of pressure to stick the landing.

Fans React to Noisy Delays and Rockstar’s Quality Promise

The reactions? All over the place. Some fans shrugged, saying they’d rather wait than deal with a broken launch, especially after watching how other big-budget games flopped when rushed out the door. Others are getting impatient, pointing to endless teasers and leaks. You don’t have to look far on forums to find frustrated posts about the never-ending production cycle that’s shadowed GTA 6 for years.

Industry watchers, like Tom Henderson over at Insider Gaming, guessed there’d be some kind of reveal or statement soon, and he wasn’t wrong. But Rockstar isn’t dropping any bonus news. At this point, they’ve set their sights on May 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Simple as that.

Why the delay? Big games today are massive in scope, with hundreds of employees and years-long production timelines. And stakes are sky-high for Rockstar—not just because GTA 6 will likely define this console generation, but because expectations for open-world games are wilder than ever. After the studio’s history of pushing out polished, sprawling hits like GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, fans expect nothing short of revolutionary.

So, for now, set aside any hope of that fake September 2025 date. The real countdown starts for May 2026, and all eyes are on Rockstar to see how much this extra time pays off. Whether you’re frustrated or relieved, the wait for the next chapter in Grand Theft Auto history just got even longer.