Rockstar Quietly Calls GTA 6 "The Largest Game Launch in History" in New Job Listing

Jason from GTA 6 (Credit: Rockstar Games)

Rockstar Games has officially referred to Grand Theft Auto 6 in a new job listing, calling it "the largest game launch in history."

Back in May, the studio shifted its release window from Holiday 2025 to May 26, 2026, while also dropping the long-awaited second trailer. Since then, Rockstar has maintained its usual silence, avoiding any mention of the game in press releases, social media, or even Grand Theft Auto Online.

That’s why this latest update is catching attention. As first spotted by GTAVICountdown, Rockstar’s New York office is hiring for a Lead Software Engineer, and unlike its usual vague descriptions, the listing directly references Grand Theft Auto VI.

Normally, Rockstar prefers to say they’re working on "some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects to be found in any entertainment medium" without naming names.

This time, however, they went all in, claiming GTA 6 will mark the biggest launch in video game history.

It’s bold, sure, but considering how Grand Theft Auto V is still one of the most profitable entertainment products ever made, earning billions since 2013 and bringing in about $500 million annually from GTA Online alone, it doesn’t sound unrealistic.

The Economic Ripples of a Delay

The delay from 2025 to 2026 has already left a noticeable mark on the industry. According to PwC, the absence of GTA 6 wiped out an estimated $2.7 billion in revenue from 2025 projections and even reduced console sales forecasts by around 700,000 units. Ampere Analysis echoed those numbers, calling the delay one of the biggest disruptors in gaming’s upcoming holiday season.

Market research firm Newzoo also adjusted its global forecast. The industry is still expected to grow by 3.4% in 2025, reaching nearly $189 billion, but that’s slower than earlier estimates. Analysts now expect steadier growth into the late 2020s, with the eventual PC release of GTA 6 likely to sustain momentum.

For U.S. markets, PwC projects gaming revenue to climb from $62.8 billion in 2024 to $87.4 billion in 2029, a healthy 6.8% annual growth rate. And yes, a huge chunk of that relies on GTA 6 finally landing in 2026.

What Analysts Expect from GTA 6

Whenever it does arrive, forecasts paint GTA 6 as a record-shattering release. DFC Intelligence (via FT) expects more than $3.2 billion in first-year revenue, with over $1 billion from pre-orders alone. Sales could reach 40 million copies in the first year and eventually climb toward 100 million by 2030, doubling GTA V’s historic run.

Other analysts, like Michael Pachter from Wedbush Securities, predict a $100 price tag, development costs of at least $1.5 billion, and lifetime revenue of $10 billion. GTA Online is expected to keep contributing about $500 million annually on top of that.

Some projections are even bolder. Konvoy Ventures estimates $7.6 billion in the first 60 days, though experts like Daniel Ahmad of Niko Partners caution that such figures would require an "impossible adoption rate" from current PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series owners.

Still, investor confidence is high. BMO Capital Markets predicts 45 million unit sales at launch and even boosted Take-Two Interactive’s share price target to $265.

So yeah, when Rockstar Games calls it the "largest game in history," these numbers seem to back it up.