Rockstar Games has announced another delay to Grand Theft Auto VI, pushing the game’s launch to 19 November 2026 – six months later than the previously scheduled May date.

The delay, which marks the second time the release has been postponed, extends what has already been a 13-year gap since the release of Grand Theft Auto V.

“We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realise has been a long wait,” Rockstar said in a statement posted to X. “These extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve.”

The game has been in development since 2018 at Rockstar’s Edinburgh-based studio, with support from its global teams.

Analysts expect it to generate billions in sales when it finally launches, with many predicting a surge in console upgrades and hardware sales.

Shares of Rockstar’s parent company Take-Two Interactive dropped 7% in after-hours trading following the news.

The long development cycle of the game has also drawn attention to workplace pressures at Rockstar, which has previously faced criticism over “crunch culture” and long working hours.

IWGB

Adding to the controversy, Rockstar has been accused of “union busting” by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) after allegedly firing 31 UK-based employees on October 30.

The union claims the dismissals targeted staff involved in early unionisation efforts, while Rockstar says the workers were terminated for sharing confidential information.

Protests have since taken place outside Rockstar’s London and Edinburgh offices, with union organisers calling the move “the most blatant act of union busting in the history of the games industry.”