GTA 6 Exec Hints No More Delays After “Pretty Short” Push—Here’s What It Really Means

It’s the most anticipated game of the decade, and yes, we’re still talking about GTA 6. After what feels like a hundred years of rumours, two trailers, and countless conspiracy tweets about Vice City pigeons, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick is giving fans something they’ve longed for: a little bit of clarity—and a dash of hope.

Speaking with CNBC, Zelnick confirmed that the recent GTA 6 delay (which pushed the game into May 26, 2026) was “pretty short,” clocking in at under six months. More importantly, he stated that another delay is unlikely. Yes, you read that right. For the first time in what feels like the Grand Theft Auto equivalent of a Marvel phase, we may finally be nearing a release date that actually sticks.

So When Was the Original GTA 6 Release Window?

Let’s connect some dots. Rockstar previously said GTA 6 was targeting a Fall 2025 release. Fall ends in December, so if the current launch is May 2026, and Zelnick says the delay is “less than six months,” that means Rockstar was probably eyeing late November or early December 2025. So technically, this isn’t one of those year-long, indefinite delays that crush hopes and forums alike. It’s more like: “Hey, we’re adding just a few more months of polish to make sure every palm tree in Vice City sways properly.” And honestly? If Rockstar needs extra time to deliver the most ambitious open-world game in history, we’ll allow it. Just please—no Cyberpunk scenarios.

“Generally, We Hit the Date”—But Let’s Not Forget GTA History

Zelnick confidently stated,

“Generally, when we announce a date, we’re able to hit that date.”

Which sounds great—until you remember that literally every Rockstar game since GTA IV has been delayed at least once. GTA V was famously pushed. RDR2? Delayed. Even GTA V’s “Expanded and Enhanced” edition for PS5/Xbox Series X|S was given a November 2021 date, only to slip to March 2022. Still, he’s not wrong. Take-Two does tend to lock things down once they shift from vague “release windows” to actual calendar dates. And now that we have May 26, 2026, in stone, there’s reason to believe they’ll stick the landing this time. Emphasis on reason to believe.

Rockstar’s Goal? Best Entertainment Ever, Not Just Best Game

Let’s be clear—this delay wasn’t just because someone forgot to render a traffic cone.

Zelnick explained that Rockstar is aiming high. Like, really high:

“Rockstar is trying to create the best thing anyone has ever seen in entertainment. Not just interactive entertainment.”

No pressure, right? It’s clear the studio isn’t just going for “GTA but shinier.” They want this to be the gold standard of modern storytelling, immersion, and open-world interactivity—and if that takes an extra quarter or two, fans (mostly) seem willing to wait. Again.

“I’m Not a Gamer,” Says the Man in Charge

In one of the more surprising nuggets from the CNBC interview, Zelnick admitted:

“I’m not a gamer. I don’t play video games.”

Which is kind of like hearing the CEO of Ferrari doesn’t drive. But in Zelnick’s defence, he adds that he sees his job as hiring the best creators in the business and then “getting out of their way.” And based on Rockstar’s legacy, that approach seems to be working just fine. (Even if it’s slightly weird that the guy who greenlights billion-dollar franchises has never nosedived a chopper into a golf course in GTA V.)

Now that we’ve got a firm release date and (supposedly) no more delays, the next phase will likely involve:

• More gameplay reveals or deep dives (fingers crossed for early 2025)
• New trailers showing off mission design, characters, and those sweet Vice City sunsets
• Hype building to a boiling point that breaks the internet again
• And probably a million think pieces asking if GTA 6 will save open-world games

Until then, all signs point to May 2026 as the date when we’ll finally step into Rockstar’s reimagined Florida playground—and probably never leave.