GTA 6 is on a long road…and it could be getting longer

Reportedly, Rockstar is grappling with the potential necessity of pushing back the release date for GTA 6 to late 2025 or even 2026, as indicated by a recent report from Kotaku.

Following concerns raised by numerous Rockstar developers regarding the company’s directive for employees to return to office work and its potential impact on the development timeline of the sequel, Kotaku has disclosed that production has fallen behind schedule, possibly leading to a significant delay.

While the internal plan still aims for an “early 2025” release for GTA 6, the likelihood of a delay to late 2025 or beyond is steadily increasing, according to sources cited in the report.

While specifics regarding why production has lagged are not provided, the setback has raised concerns within Rockstar about meeting the initially targeted Spring 2025 release window. Consequently, a Fall 2025 release date is now considered a more viable option. Notably, this production setback is said to be a primary motivator behind Rockstar’s push for employees to return to in-office work during the final stages of GTA 6’s development.

It is important to recognize, as observed anecdotally and reported by Kotaku, that Rockstar has a tendency to make significant changes or adjustments to plans at the eleventh hour. Subsequently, coordinating with PR and communications teams for announcements and timing can further extend the process. Thus, even if a new trailer reiterating the announced 2025 release window emerges soon, there is no guarantee that GTA 6 won’t face further delays.

Meanwhile, concerns among Rockstar developers, who typically lack decision-making authority regarding release dates, are mounting over the mandatory return-to-office policy potentially prompting employees unwilling or unable to comply to resign, thereby creating additional obstacles in the development process.

Efforts to reach out to Rockstar for comment are ongoing, and this article will be updated accordingly.