GTA 6 may be much further behind schedule than fans originally realized. In a new interview, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick revealed that Rockstar Games’ blockbuster sequel is running “about 18 months behind the original date,” suggesting the game may have internally targeted a spring 2025 release long before its official delays were announced.
The comment came during a conversation with David Senra, where Zelnick reflected on the lengthy development process behind GTA 6. While Rockstar publicly announced the game with a fall 2025 target, it was later pushed to May 2026 and eventually delayed again to its current November 19, 2026, release date. Zelnick’s latest remarks indicate the studio may have originally planned to launch even earlier than fans knew.
Despite the setbacks, Take-Two continues to publicly project confidence in the game’s timeline. When asked directly about uncertainty surrounding the release schedule, Zelnick responded firmly: “November 19th, I do know. It’s been announced.”
The scale of GTA 6’s production has also become clearer in recent months. Reports estimate Take-Two has already spent between $1 billion and $1.5 billion on development, making it one of the most expensive video games ever produced.
Zelnick acknowledged the game’s massive budget in a recent interview, saying simply, “It was expensive.” He has also described Take-Two’s strategy as giving Rockstar “unlimited financial, creative human resources” in pursuit of “perfection.”
That level of investment helps explain why Rockstar has remained cautious about rushing the project. Earlier reporting suggested that portions of the game were still not “content complete,” meaning that missions, environments, and systems were still being finalized.
At the same time, the company has tried to reassure players that development conditions have improved compared to the intense crunch culture associated with earlier Rockstar releases, such as Red Dead Redemption 2.
As anticipation builds, attention has shifted toward the next stage of the rollout. Zelnick previously confirmed that GTA 6 marketing would intensify this summer, fueling speculation around Trailer 3 and possible preorder launches. Rumors surrounding retailer leaks and preorder dates have already started circulating online.
