• Rockstar Games has delayed Grand Theft Auto 6 until May 26, 2026.
  • The sixth installment of the open-world game was due to launch this fall.
  • A 2026 debut means we’ll have waited 13 years for a sequel to GTA 5.

Our want level for the next installment of the legendary Grand Theft Auto series is at five stars but Rockstar says we’re just going to have to wait a bit longer to get our hands on it. GTA 6’s release has been pushed back to 2026, the developer announced.

GTA 6 was scheduled to appear in stores and in downloadable form online this fall, but now won’t be available until May next year. That means by the time it does debut, 13 years will have passed since the still hugely popular GTA 5 appeared. Rockstar said it took the difficult decision to ensure the long wait is worth it and doesn’t lead to disappointments.

Related: GTA 6 Goes Chock-Full Florida In First Official Video

“We are very sorry that this is later than you expected,” the company said in a statement. “The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game.

“With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”

Things have been quiet on the GTA news front lately after a flurry of stories whetted our appetite for the new game in the early 2020s. First, much to Rockstar’s disappointment, video files depicting GTA 6 gameplay leaked online, and then the company itself finally dropped the first official trailer at the tail end of 2023.

The video revealed that GTA 6 will be set in a fictional version of Miami called Vice City, both of which have been used in previous editions of the franchise. Aside from introducing a new roster of cars, GTA 6 also features street takeovers.

Though we’re gutted by the delay, we’re happy to wait if it means it lands without a ton of the kind of glitches that afflicted the much-hyped CyberPunk 2077 at its launch five years ago.

Credits: Rockstar