GTA 6 Release Date May Slip Beyond May 2026, Says Insider

GTA 6 (Credit: Rockstar Games)

Grand Theft Auto VI may not make its scheduled May 26, 2026, release date, according to industry insider Tom Henderson, who believes Rockstar Games could push the launch further into the year.

Official Release Date and Prior Delay

Earlier this year, Rockstar Games officially delayed GTA 6 from its original 2025 launch window to May 26, 2026. In a statement, the studio explained the move as necessary to ensure the game meets the high expectations set by both players and the company itself.

“With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception,” Rockstar said at the time. “We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”

Since that announcement, Rockstar has remained quiet about the game’s development progress.

Tom Henderson’s Perspective

Speaking on the Insider Gaming Weekly podcast, Tom Henderson expressed doubts that the game would ship in May 2026.

“To be honest, I don’t think that it is gonna release in May. For some reason, I just cannot see GTA 6 releasing in May,” Henderson said. “All the rumblings and so on just doesn’t seem to suggest it. Not enough to corroborate or report on it, so don’t put this on Reddit.”

While Henderson stressed that this is not a confirmed report, he argued that Rockstar’s history of perfectionism could easily push the game’s release further down the line.

“I think Rockstar have proven time and time again that they’re perfectionists,” Henderson noted. “GTA is such a monumental game that anything wrong with it, even the slightest bug, the media is going to run with that and make it seem like an incredibly bad thing. To me personally, I think we are looking at October.”

According to him, an October 2026 launch would make more sense. Not only would it position the game for strong holiday sales, but it would also give the studio a clear timeline for post-launch updates and additional ports.

Henderson suggested that an October release could be followed by a staggered rollout of a next-gen port, likely for PlayStation 6, and eventually a PC version. He predicted such plans could unfold 12 to 18 months after the initial console launch.

Possible Announcement Window

Although nothing is official yet, Henderson speculated that if Rockstar does intend to delay GTA 6 again, the announcement could come as early as November during Take-Two Interactive’s next earnings call. “That’s where the whole industry is waiting,” he remarked.

For now, GTA fans will need to take these claims with a grain of salt. Henderson has been clear that his comments are based on industry rumblings rather than hard evidence. Still, given Rockstar’s track record of prioritizing polish over deadlines, it wouldn’t be surprising if GTA 6 shifts from its May target to a later date in 2026.