These Developers Are Hoping for Another GTA VI Delay (and Rockstar Might Just Grant Their Wish)
As Grand Theft Auto VI is shaping up to be the biggest launch in video game history, rival developers are secretly hoping Rockstar will push its release even further. The anxious anticipation is a testament to how this title could reshape the global gaming landscape.
When Rockstar officially delayed GTA VI to May 2026, the internet practically exploded. On Reddit, the r/gta6 channel was flooded with despair-filled memes and frantic posts, prompting moderators to freeze submissions and — with ironic flair — pin the number of a mental health hotline. This emotional tidal wave underscores how even a simple delay can shake the entire ecosystem, with developers and players alike hanging on Rockstar’s every move.
Image credit: Rockstar Games
A Titan That Shakes the Entire Industry
This is no longer just a game — Grand Theft Auto VI is seen as a thermonuclear bomb on the gaming release calendar. According to a Bloomberg report, this behemoth is expected to obliterate anything within its blast radius, monopolizing media and gamer attention for weeks on end. Even Call of Duty, the undisputed annual sales leader, fears Rockstar’s looming shadow. Back in 2018, Call of Duty‘s developers moved up their release by a full month to avoid Red Dead Redemption 2 — a move that failed, as Rockstar’s game topped the charts and pushed Activision’s franchise to a rare second place. For competitors, the May 2026 delay is a welcome breather… but also a new strategic headache.
When Rockstar delayed Grand Theft Auto VI last week, some competing game-makers breathed sighs of relief. Others held emergency meetings. This week’s column talks about the ripple effects of the year’s biggest delay: www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet…
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier.bsky.social) May 9, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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While some publishers are quietly celebrating the GTA 6 delay to May 2026, others are now caught in a bind. One anonymous developer, working on a major multiplayer title, admitted to having already pushed their release from fall 2025 to spring 2026, partly to avoid GTA VI, and partly because their game needed more polish. Now, they face a painful dilemma:
- Delaying again would cost a fortune and postpone return on investment even further.
- Launching alongside GTA VI could spell commercial disaster.
- And if Rockstar delays again, all this maneuvering would be for nothing…
This uncertainty is what makes things so complicated. As Bloomberg puts it, “this is a giant 4D chess match playing out across the video game industry”, with every player trying to guess whether Rockstar will actually stick to its May 2026 date.
Some developers working on late-2026 projects are even “praying for another delay” — in some cases, not out of fear, but to justify their own delays and buy precious time. At this point, the release of GTA VI transcends gaming: it’s a global cultural event. With over 210 million copies sold of its predecessor and a second trailer that shattered records with 475 million views, this next installment is on track to become the most momentous launch in entertainment history.
And when it finally lands, it will suck all the oxygen out of the room. For any other game releasing nearby, sharing the spotlight could be reckless… or downright suicidal.
Rockstar’s Track Record of Delays
For industry veterans, this uncertainty is nothing new. Rockstar Games is known for its obsessive pursuit of quality. Red Dead Redemption 2, widely acclaimed for its excellence, also suffered multiple delays. Initially slated for spring 2018, it didn’t arrive until October that year. Rockstar’s stance is clear: avoid crunch at all costs — those grueling overtime periods that marred the final stretch of Red Dead 2‘s development. According to sources close to the studio, no one at Rockstar seriously believed GTA VI would release in fall 2025.
The Future Remains Uncertain
For now, the official release date stands at May 26, 2026. But given Rockstar’s history, the scale of the project, and the mounting anxiety across the industry, there’s reason to doubt. Everyone seems to be waiting on Rockstar’s green light, as if the launch of GTA VI were the keystone in a massive puzzle.
Until a definitive confirmation arrives, developers and gamers alike are holding their breath. One thing is certain: no matter when it launches, the gaming world will never be the same after GTA VI. And while we wait, it’s impossible not to (re)watch the jaw-dropping second trailer — a thrilling burst of Rockstar madness that offers a tantalizing glimpse at what could be the game of the decade.
