Take-Two CEO on GTA 6 Delay: 'Painful but Necessary for Creative Vision'

Back in February, I had the chance to discuss with Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, about the confidence level surrounding the then-anticipated fall 2025 release window for Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). At the time, Zelnick expressed a strong belief, stating he felt "really good about it." However, just three months later, in a move that perhaps surprised few, the release of GTA 6 was postponed to May 26, 2026.

Curious about what shifted in those few months, I revisited the topic with Zelnick during an interview that coincided with the release of Take-Two's latest financial results. He explained that as the development of GTA 6 progressed towards its launch, the necessity for additional polish became increasingly evident. Zelnick remarked, "As we get closer to completion of a title that’s seeking perfection, the needs or lack thereof, for continued polish become clear. In this case, there was an opportunity with a small amount of incremental time, we thought, to make sure Rockstar Games achieves its creative vision with no limitations. And I supported, of course, that approach."

The delay of GTA 6 to a date outside of Take-Two's current financial year and into the next is undoubtedly a setback for the company's short-term financial performance. Yet, Zelnick remains optimistic about the future, highlighting upcoming titles like Gearbox's Borderlands 4, Hangar 13's Mafia: The Old Country, and new additions to the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series. "I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today," he stated. "And while of course, delays pain me — how could they not? — the most important thing to do is to support your teams in their search for perfection."

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With the new release date set for GTA 6, I couldn't help but revisit my February question to Zelnick: how confident are you that Rockstar will hit May 26, 2026? This time, his response carried an even stronger assurance. "I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it," he stated. This suggests a high level of confidence that GTA 6 will not face further delays, though Zelnick wisely refrained from making absolute promises.

The release of the second trailer for GTA 6, along with Rockstar's additional information, has fueled speculation among fans about what the game might include. Some enthusiasts speculate that Liberty City might feature in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch downloadable content (DLC).

As we eagerly await further details, there's plenty more to explore about GTA 6, including comprehensive breakdowns of everything we know so far, a collection of 70 brand new screenshots, and expert insights on how the game will perform on the PS5 Pro.