Take-Two CEO Confident in GTA 6 Release Date, Warns Against Early Launch
Take-Two Interactive has announced a new release date for the highly anticipated game, Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6). The game is now set to launch on November 19, 2026. This marks the second delay for the title since its initial announcement.
CEO’s Confidence in New Release Date
CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed strong confidence that this latest postponement will be the final one. In a recent discussion with media, he attributed the delay to the need for additional polish from the developers at Rockstar Games. Zelnick stated, “We wanted to give Rockstar the appropriate amount of time to polish the title and make sure it can be the very best it can be.”
Previous Release Dates and Delays
Initially, GTA 6 was expected to release in the fall of 2025, but it was first pushed back to May 2026. Zelnick had previously maintained confidence in these dates despite growing speculation about potential delays.
Industry Insights on Game Development
When questioned about the possibility of a further delay into 2027, Zelnick reiterated his optimistic outlook for the new launch date. He remarked on the importance of taking the necessary time to refine gaming titles, emphasizing that hasty releases often lead to negative outcomes. He stated, “When our competitors go to market before something was ready, bad things happen.”
Financial Performance of Take-Two
In related news, Take-Two recently reported record net bookings of $1.96 billion for its second quarter. This achievement is attributed to successful releases such as NBA 2K26, Mafia: The Old Country, and Borderlands 4. Additionally, the company reported that Grand Theft Auto V continues to perform well, having sold over 220 million units worldwide.
Controversies and Employment Issues
Despite positive financial news, Take-Two is currently facing challenges related to its workforce. Recently, the company terminated several employees for allegedly leaking confidential information. The affected employees counterclaimed that their dismissals were retaliation for discussing unionization efforts.
As anticipation grows around GTA 6, the industry will be watching closely to see if the new release date holds and how these internal issues at Take-Two impact future developments.
