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

Back in February, I had the opportunity to ask Strauss Zelnick, the head of Take-Two Interactive, about his confidence in hitting the fall 2025 release window for GTA 6. At the time, he expressed strong optimism, stating he felt "really good about it." However, just three months later, the release of GTA 6 was pushed back to May 26, 2026, which came as no surprise to many.

Curious about what might have prompted this delay, I recently spoke with Zelnick again following the publication of Take-Two's latest financial results. He explained that as the game neared completion, the need 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 that the slight delay was a strategic move to ensure Rockstar Games could fully realize their creative vision without any compromises. "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," he added.

The delay of GTA 6 into the next financial year is a setback for Take-Two's short-term financial projections. Nevertheless, Zelnick remains optimistic about the company's upcoming lineup, which includes eagerly anticipated titles such as 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 said. "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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Given the recent delay, I revisited my earlier question to Zelnick about the confidence in hitting the new release date of May 26, 2026. This time, his response was even more assured: "I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it." This statement suggests a strong commitment to the new timeline, implying that another delay is highly unlikely. While it's never guaranteed, setting a firm date and sticking to it would be a significant milestone for the game.

The release of the second GTA 6 trailer, along with additional information from Rockstar, has ignited a flurry of speculation among fans about the game's content. Some enthusiasts speculate that Liberty City might make an appearance in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC.

As we eagerly await further details, there's plenty more to explore about GTA 6. You can find comprehensive coverage on all the details discovered so far, a gallery featuring 70 new screenshots, and expert analyses on how GTA 6 will perform on the PS5 Pro.