Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has revealed his initial disbelief when Rockstar Games requested a second delay for Grand Theft Auto VI. The game, initially slated for a 2025 release, was first pushed to May 2026, and then later to November 2026.
According to a report detailing the making of GTA 6, Rockstar's leadership believed a 2025 launch was feasible when the game was first revealed in December 2023. However, as development progressed, studio leaders realized more time was necessary to achieve the desired quality. Rob Nelson, Rockstar North's head of development and co-studio head, explained the pressure to deliver a high-quality game within an aggressive timeframe and the need to reassess achievability as development neared completion.
Rockstar's head of publishing, Jennifer Kolbe, was tasked with informing Zelnick of the need for more time. Zelnick granted the initial delay. Months later, Kolbe had to approach him again with the news of a further delay. "I think he said, 'You're kidding,'" Kolbe recalled. "Please tell me you're kidding."
Despite his initial reaction, Zelnick ultimately understood the reasons behind the second delay. Kolbe expressed gratitude for Zelnick's reasonable approach, noting that many development teams are not afforded such flexibility and often have to ship games that are not yet up to par. Zelnick himself views extending development time as a wise investment, allowing games to reach their full potential. While the calls may not have been easy, the decision allowed Rockstar to refine GTA 6, which is now set to launch on November 19.