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

Back in February, I had the opportunity to ask Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, about his confidence in meeting the fall 2025 release window for GTA 6. At the time, he expressed a strong sense of assurance, stating he felt "really good about it." However, just three months later, GTA 6's release was postponed to May 26, 2026, a shift that perhaps didn't surprise many in the gaming community.

Curious about what might have prompted this change, I revisited the topic with Zelnick during an interview coinciding with the release of Take-Two's latest financial results. He explained that as the game neared completion, the necessity for additional polish became evident. "As we get closer to completion of a title that’s seeking perfection, the needs or lack thereof, for continued polish become clear," Zelnick remarked. He emphasized the opportunity to ensure Rockstar Games could achieve its creative vision without compromise, a decision he wholeheartedly supported.

"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," Zelnick elaborated.

While the delay pushes GTA 6's release outside of Take-Two's current financial year, impacting short-term figures, Zelnick remains optimistic about the company's future lineup. This includes anticipated titles like Gearbox's Borderlands 4, Hangar 13's Mafia: The Old Country, and new entries in the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series. "I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today," he stated, acknowledging the pain of delays but underscoring the importance of supporting the development teams in their pursuit of perfection.

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With the new release date set, I posed the same question to Zelnick once more: how confident are you that Rockstar will meet the May 26, 2026 deadline? His response this time was even more resolute. "I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it." This suggests a strong commitment to the announced date, hinting that further delays are unlikely, though one can never be entirely certain in the world of game development.

The release of GTA 6 Trailer 2, coupled with Rockstar's detailed updates, has ignited widespread speculation about what fans can expect from this monumental title. Some enthusiasts are even theorizing that Liberty City might make an appearance in GTA 6, either at launch or as part of post-launch DLC.

As we eagerly await more information, there's no shortage of content to explore. From all the details we’ve uncovered so far, to a collection of 70 brand new screenshots, and expert insights on how GTA 6 will perform on the PS5 Pro, the excitement around GTA 6 continues to build.