The long-rumored delay of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) has finally been confirmed — and it's sending ripples across the gaming world. Originally expected to launch in late 2025, Rockstar Games has now pushed the release to 2026 , giving the development team more time to meet sky-high expectations.

As one of the most anticipated and influential titles in gaming, GTA 6 is expected to overshadow nearly every other release in its vicinity. Many publishers have already timed their launches to avoid clashing with Rockstar’s juggernaut — but now they must recalibrate once again.

Mat Piscatella, an analyst at Circana, voiced serious concerns about the impact this delay could have on the broader gaming market:

Well, this week certainly moved into 'nightmare scenario territory' for industry forecasting [...] It became a matter of 'survive until 2025' — not survive until 2026.

His comment highlights a growing fear: without GTA 6 launching in 2025 as expected, many companies may struggle to attract investor confidence and maintain momentum. The game was seen as a potential catalyst for renewed interest in the industry — especially amid shifting market conditions and rising development costs.

With GTA 6 now out of the picture until 2026, the pressure is mounting on other publishers to deliver hits that can fill the void and keep both players and investors engaged.

Main image: reddit.com

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