Now that 2025 is finally here, one big question is on everyone’s mind. Is 2025 the year GTA 6 finally releases? Aside from the feverish fan intrigue we’ve seen in 2024, it’s been relatively quiet for GTA 6 since it was first revealed in December 2023, with no official announcement from GTA developer Rockstar Games. There have been a lot of rumors and rumors that GTA 6 has already been delayed internally, and rumors of a delay announcement may also come out soon.
The biggest and latest rumor about a delay came in September 2024, but with no official announcement, the rumor seems more plausible. Take-Two Interactive eventually shot down the rumor in its second quarter 2024 earnings call in November 2024, which was the most important piece of information we’ve received since the game’s initial announcement. At least at the time of the earnings call, the publisher confirmed that the game is still scheduled for a fall 2025 release.
Take-Two’s comments at face value are reassuring, but history shows that Rockstar Games has a tendency to delay games, and this isn’t the first time Take-Two has had to adjust its financial forecasts due to such delays. .
history of delay
Rockstar Games’ last two major title releases, GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, suffered significant delays from their initial announcements to their final release dates.
Rockstar Games’ latest major title, Red Dead Redemption 2, was delayed twice from its announcement trailer to its final release. Announced on October 18, 2016, the game was originally scheduled for release in the second half of 2017, but was eventually released on October 26, 2018, with Rockstar Games stating that additional development time was needed to polish the game.
Grand Theft Auto 5 also suffered delays. From a planned spring 2013 release, the game was eventually scheduled for release in September 2013. Although it was a slight delay, Rockstar Games claimed it was necessary due to polish. In fact, this has been a recurring theme at Rockstar Games over the past 15 years, with almost every Rockstar Games title from GTA 4 to the original Red Dead Redemption experiencing delays. GTA 6 has yet to meet the same fate, but it’s not hard to imagine Rockstar Games continuing this trend, especially in the current climate of the gaming industry.
Take-Two’s full lineup in 2025
This has already been widely discussed, but another thing to consider is that Take-Two’s 2025 lineup is already full, even without the release of GTA 6. With annual releases like Borderlands 4, Civilization 7, Mafia: The Old Country, and NBA 2K and WWE 2K, 2025 will probably be one of the most prolific years in Take-Two’s history. There won’t be the biggest game launch of the last decade. .
So what’s wrong with Take-Two’s biggest game launch lineup? Unfortunately, it comes down to year-over-year earnings and investor expectations. Investors expect continued growth, and stacking too many large launches in one year can be a decision that raises eyebrows among investors. That’s especially true if Take-Two’s 2026 lineup is weaker than its larger game releases. Of course, we all know Take-Two’s moneymaker will be GTA Online for GTA 6, but it’s currently unclear whether or not it will ever be released.
But from a purely financial standpoint, would Borderlands 4 and Mafia: The Old Country sell millions more copies if GTA 6 was delayed until 2026? This is a matter for investors to think carefully about. The GTA 6 delay will undoubtedly cause Take-Two’s stock price to drop a few percent, but Take-Two’s fiscal year will still be strong and the prospect of a confirmed release date for GTA 6 will likely keep its stock higher. .
Although I think Take-Two will ultimately let Rockstar decide whether more improvements are needed, it’s definitely a point that needs to be raised that this is a business at its core and GTA 6 will make the company billions of dollars over the years. come. Another six months of delay is not the end of Take-Two, and if further improvements are needed, it’s okay to wait a little longer.
Do you think GTA 6 will be delayed until 2026? Let us know in the comments and join the discussion in our forum!
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