The gaming world is buzzing with anticipation for Rockstar Games’ next blockbuster, Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6). However, the burning question on everyone’s lips is: Will the game make its anticipated 2025 release window, or will it be pushed back to 2026? While official answers remain elusive, former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij has offered some speculative insight that has sparked widespread interest.
Vermeij took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the potential fate of GTA 6’s release window. While acknowledging he has no inside information, he pointed to past delays at Rockstar, specifically referencing the delay of GTA 4. Originally scheduled for release in October 2007, GTA 4 was ultimately pushed back to 2008.
“The decision to delay GTA 4 was made four months or so before the original release date,” Vermeij explained. “Any further and it’s hard to make the call. Rockstar is probably not in a position to determine whether they will hit 2025 until May-ish.” If Rockstar were to follow a similar decision-making timeline for GTA 6, a decision on delaying the game could come as late as mid-2025, about four months before its expected fall release.
This means that players might not know if GTA 6 will meet its 2025 target until around May of that year. For a game as monumental as GTA 6, delays wouldn’t be surprising, especially considering Rockstar’s reputation for delivering polished, high-quality titles. Vermeij reiterated Rockstar’s commitment to ensuring a game is completely ready before releasing it.
“GTA 6 will sell for 10 plus years and there is no competition to worry about. They are not going to release the game until they’re 100% happy with it. No matter what it said in the trailer,” he explained. This philosophy aligns with the game studio’s previous behavior, where the quality of their releases has been paramount. From the intricate open-world dynamics of Red Dead Redemption 2 to the painstakingly detailed environments of the GTA series, Rockstar has always aimed to push the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming.
Despite all the speculation, Rockstar and its parent company Take-Two Interactive Software Inc have held firm on the 2025 release window. In May 2024, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told IGN: “We do feel highly confident that we’ll deliver GTA 6 in fall of 2025.” However, internal conflicts over Rockstar’s return-to-office policy have raised concerns about whether development could be slowed.
The potential delay of GTA 6 is a hot topic in the gaming world, and it’s something that fans will be closely watching. Only time will tell if Rockstar can meet its ambitious 2025 release target or if the game will be pushed back to 2026.
