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GTA 6 Delayed to November 19, 2026, Triggering an Industry Rethink of Release Plans

Analysts expect publishers to avoid the new window as the game’s outsized pull rewrites late‑2026 strategy.

Overview

  • Rockstar set a new date of November 19, 2026 for Grand Theft Auto 6 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, saying the extra time is for polish.
  • Market watchers say rival blockbusters will likely vacate the holiday 2026 period, with one analyst calling a head‑to‑head launch “suicide.”
  • Ampere’s Piers Harding‑Rolls suggests the timing could influence when next‑gen PlayStation and Xbox hardware debuts, though this remains speculative.
  • Reports indicate Rockstar recently dismissed roughly 30–40 staff in the UK and Canada prior to the delay announcement.
  • Arrowhead’s CEO says the six‑month slip gives studios more uninterrupted runway before GTA 6 arrives and believes the new date will hold.