Reports give hint on GTA 6 release date, and it's bad news

Fariha Bhatti Published 03/06/2022

Rockstar Games has several hit titles under its belt, but nothing matches the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Fans of the free-roaming game are now waiting for GTA 6 with bated breath but a leak suggests that the game’s release date is far in the future. 

Rockstar has rolled out some of the greatest gaming titles in its storied history but GTA’s open-world charm remains irreplaceable. Whether it’s offline missions or online role-playing, GTA became the ultimate comfort game for many. Players are still hooked on GTA 5, but confirmation of a new installment has caused a buzz. However, the new game may not be coming anytime soon, despite some rumors. 

A string of reports and rumors hinted that GTA 6 may be released as soon as 2023 or 2024 but players may have to wait longer than that to enjoy the latest installment. 

What is the GTA 6 release date? 

According to Rockstar’s internal reports, the release date of GTA 6 isn’t until 2026 at the earliest. 

According to Take-Two Interactive’s internal plans, GTA 6 is not in the pipeline for the next three years. The fiscal report mentioned all the Rockstar games that are in development with expected release dates between 2023 and 2025. The list didn’t include GTA 6, confirming that it’s still in the pre-alpha phase. It’s possible that Take-Two is keeping a very tight seal on news related to the game but more likely is that the reports suggesting a 2023 release were overly optimistic. 

GTA 5 is still topping charts as rumors of a new installment brew. According to Take-Two, the game sold yet another 5 million units over the last three months in 2022. GTA 5 is still moving units at a healthy clip and the game remains culturally relevant thanks to role-playing servers. These numbers confirm that players aren’t done with GTA 5 yet.  

Considering the astronomical production costs and lengthy development cycles associated with Grand Theft Auto, it makes sense that GTA 6 would take years to complete.

While it’s likely not coming out any time soon, fans can take solace knowing that GTA 6 is in the works. Rockstar announced the game on February 4th, 2022 and since then, no official trailer or teaser has been released. The game is well underway, but players will have to wait indefinitely to finally enjoy Rockstar’s open-world game. 

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

View full profile

Read Also

GTA

These are the streamers we’re most keen to see play GTA 6 Hannan Mundia GTA 6 is easily the most anticipated game of the year, if not the decade. The hype has only grown with the release of more in-game screenshots recently and Rockstar also opened pre-orders and confirmed the cover art. Its looming presence also affects the industry more generally, with no developer wanting to release its game close to the November 19 release date. Fan theories and story predictions have been plentiful, ...

News

Ubisoft continues layoffs of Barcelona developers despite Black Flag Resynced success Khizar Mundia Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has been a much-needed success after the mixed reception of Shadows, but Ubisoft is still laying off Barcelona developers despite the game selling more than 2 million copies in just 24 hours. Ubisoft announced a multi-year restructuring plan after several underperforming releases, game cancellations, delays, and rising development costs. The company announced 380 layoffs in June as it seeks to improve profitability. The Barcelona layoffs ...

GTA

GTA 6 pre-orders go live with prices, editions, rewards, and GTA Online details Hannan Mundia Excitement around GTA 6’s pre-orders is at an all-time high, causing some players to celebrate the game’s pre-launch and others to voice concern about some of Rockstar’s decisions. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most anticipated games of all time. Despite the delay, the game’s hype is still at an all-time high, and it seems to have only surged even ...

Slots

How to play Stake’s GTA-themed Drop the Boss 2: Maralago game Hannan Mundia After the success of the first Drop the Boss game, Mirror Image Gaming has released a GTA-themed sequel with even more quirky references. This game is exclusively at Stake, and the casino is no stranger to releasing games with surreal  themes. The Drop the Boss game is the perfect example of something that could never see the light of day on gaming platforms such as Steam and the PlayStation Store. ...

GTA

Rockstar confirms GTA 6 pre-orders and reveals cover art Ben Boland GTA 6’s long-awaited release is a step closer, with Rockstar Games confirming that pre-orders will begin on June 25. The studio also revealed the official cover art, giving fans belief that the game is now set for release as scheduled on November 19, 2026. Announcing the news on social media platforms, including X and YouTube, the studio said: "Pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI will officially begin on June 25 ...

Kick

Here’s how GTA RP streamers can get verified faster on Kick Fariha Bhatti Kick is teaming up with a GTA roleplay server for the first time ever, offering streamers a fast track to visibility and a shot at official Kick partnership. Getting verified on Kick is one of the toughest hurdles for new streamers, and it’s not exactly a surprise. Hundreds of new creators join the platform every day, all after the verified checkmark and hoping to eventually qualify for the Kick Partner ...

Esports Betting

Sony’s State of Play has transformed the 2026 and 2027 game release schedule Michael Hassall Sony’s State of Play on June 2 was one of the most exciting showcases of what we can expect from the gaming world in the next six months, with some major statement title bookmarking a solid line-up of returning classics and new favorites. From the thrilling opening with Wolverine and Marvel characters taking the lead, to the closing moments with God of War Laufey punctuating both the God of War ...