Thirteen years. That’s how long fans will have waited between GTA 5 and GTA 6 when it finally launches on November 19, 2026. Along the way came a massive leak, record-breaking trailers and two delays. Here’s the complete GTA 6 timeline and delay history in one place, and why this date is finally locked in.
Quick answer: GTA 6 was first promised for 2025 (later narrowed to autumn 2025). On May 2, 2025, Rockstar delayed it to May 26, 2026. On November 6, 2025, it was delayed again to November 19, 2026. Take-Two confirmed on November 9, 2026, that the game is finished, so there will be no more delays.
Want the full details? GTA6 Basecamp’s everything confirmed before launch covers where things stand today.
The full GTA 6 timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 17, 2013 | GTA 5 launches, going on to become one of the best-selling games ever |
| February 4, 2022 | Rockstar officially confirms the next Grand Theft Auto is in development |
| September 2022 | A huge leak of early development footage spreads online |
| December 4, 2023 | Trailer 1 released a day early after leaking; release set for 2025 |
| May 2, 2025 | First delay: moved to May 26, 2026 |
| May 6, 2025 | Trailer 2 released |
| November 6, 2025 | Second delay: moved to November 19, 2026 |
| May 26, 2026 | The original 2026 date passes |
| June 24–25, 2026 | Prices revealed ($79.99 / $99.99) and pre-orders open |
| August 27, 2026 | An Extended Look: about 26 minutes of gameplay, premiered on Netflix |
| October 15, 2026 | Launch Trailer, with music by Justice |
| November 9, 2026 | Take-Two confirms Rockstar has finished development (gone gold) |
| November 10, 2026 | Digital pre-load opens; boxed copies follow on November 12 |
| November 13, 2026 | First update, 1.002, released |
| November 19, 2026 | Launch at midnight local time, New Zealand first |
The first delay (May 2025)
Rockstar moved GTA 6 from autumn 2025 to May 26, 2026, saying it needed more time to deliver the game at the level of quality fans expect. Trailer 2 followed just four days later, which softened the blow. For a deeper look at the reasoning, read our earlier analysis, anatomy of a blockbuster delay.
The second delay (November 2025)
Six months before the May date, Rockstar announced another delay, to November 19, 2026, saying the extra months would let it finish the game with the polish players expect. It also landed GTA 6 squarely in the holiday shopping season, which matters for sales.
Why the date won’t move again
- On November 9, 2026, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said, “Right now, Rockstar has completed the development of GTA VI.” See GTA 6 has gone gold.
- Pre-loads opened on November 10, so the game is already on many consoles.
- A pre-launch patch has already been released.
Is a 13-year gap normal?
No, it’s the longest gap between main GTA games. GTA 5 kept earning for over a decade thanks to GTA Online, which gave Rockstar room to build something much bigger. The jump from GTA 5 to GTA 6 is huge; see GTA 6 vs GTA 5: 15 confirmed changes.
Frequently asked questions
How many times was GTA 6 delayed?
Twice: from 2025 to May 26, 2026, then to November 19, 2026.
Will GTA 6 be delayed again?
No. Take-Two confirmed the game is finished and launching November 19, 2026.
When was GTA 6 announced?
Rockstar confirmed development on February 4, 2022, and revealed the game with Trailer 1 on December 4, 2023.
How long after GTA 5 is GTA 6 releasing?
About 13 years: September 2013 to November 2026.
For the latest GTA 6 news through launch, visit gta6basecamp.com.
Sources: Rockstar Games and Rockstar Newswire, Take-Two Interactive, Tech Insider, Analytics Insight, NME, GamesRadar+, gtaside.com.
