What GTA VI’s Delay Means for the Rest of Gaming

Gamers were left disappointed when Rockstar announced GTA VI would be delayed.

The new game has already been long overdue and it was originally slated for “Fall 2025”.

But on May 2, it was announced that it would be delayed until May 26, 2026, with Rockstar saying they need the “extra time to deliver at the level of quality” gamers expect and deserve.

The new date hasn’t just frustrated fans – it’s shifted the balance of power across the entire gaming industry.

Publishers, developers, analysts and console manufacturers are all reacting to what might be the most consequential delay in recent memory.

With billions of dollars, corporate reputations, and the future of console gaming on the line, Grand Theft Auto VI’s delay is a seismic event.

A Quiet Sigh of Relief

While the delay disappointed players, it brought quiet celebration from elsewhere in the business.

GTA VI is so huge that few dare release games in its shadow.

Many publishers and developers had been hesitant to finalise or announce 2025 release plans, fearing their games would go head-to-head with Rockstar’s juggernaut.

The new May 2026 date gives the industry a little breathing room, for now.

Some still worry the delay is just step one of a familiar Rockstar pattern. Both GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 were delayed twice, with final releases pushed into the year’s final quarter.

A holiday 2026 launch now seems more than likely, especially considering the sales potential.

One studio boss previously said:

“It’s a huge meteor and we’ll just have to stay clear of the blast zone.”

Another added: “If we move out of 2025, what if Rockstar do, too?”

That worry hasn’t gone away. Despite the relief, few will be brave enough to lock in launch dates until Rockstar does.

A Defining Moment for Consoles

In 2024, the games industry made $184.3 billion, a modest 0.2% increase over 2023. Yet console sales dipped 1%, a worrying sign in a hardware-driven ecosystem.

That slip has already forced Microsoft and Sony to raise hardware prices due to tariff wars and stagnant demand.

This generation now needs a definitive, console-shifting release and GTA VI is supposed to be that.

Market analysts expect the game to make $1 billion in pre-orders and $3.2 billion in its first year.

Some even believe it could hit that billion-dollar milestone in just 24 hours, a feat that took GTA V three days.

Circana analyst Mat Piscatella summarised: “There’s probably never been a more important thing to ever release in the industry.”

If any one game can reverse the plateau in growth, it’s this one.

The 1st £100 Game?

GTA VI may set a new price standard. Rumours suggest it could become the first mainstream game to retail at £100.

That would be a watershed moment for the industry, raising questions about pricing models, value perception, and long-term sustainability.

Supporters argue the game’s scale justifies the premium.

Critics point out that if GTA VI costs £100, others might follow, even if they can’t deliver similar value.

Either way, Rockstar’s pricing could define the economic shape of the next console cycle.

Rockstar’s Culture Shift

Delays have long been associated with Rockstar, but this time the reason may be cultural as much as technical.

In 2018, the company faced criticism over reports of 100-hour weeks and mandatory ‘crunch time’ during Red Dead Redemption 2’s development. The company promised reforms.

According to a Bloomberg report, Rockstar converted contractors to full-time staff and introduced a flexitime policy.

But earlier in 2025, that progress seemed under threat when employees were ordered back to the office full-time to help finish the game.

Jason Schreier confirmed as much, posting on BlueSky:

“Too much work, not enough time, and what appears to be a real desire from management to avoid brutal crunch.”

For those inside Rockstar, this delay may be the only way to avoid a return to past mistakes.

Rockstar only has one shot to get this right – what’s six more months after 13 years?

The Switch 2’s Surprise Stake in GTA VI

Oddly enough, Nintendo may be one of the companies most affected by GTA VI’s delay.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick recently pledged full support for the upcoming Switch 2, sparking speculation about Rockstar’s role.

The idea of GTA VI launching on a Nintendo console once seemed absurd.

But the Trilogy’s Definitive Edition launched on the Switch, and modders have already shown GTA V running on the handheld.

With Cyberpunk 2077 confirmed for Switch 2, complete with the Phantom Liberty expansion, the boundaries between platform and power are fading.

Even if Grand Theft Auto VI doesn’t arrive on the Switch 2 in its first year, the delay reshapes expectations around what Nintendo’s next console will be expected to deliver.

There’s a reason Switch has hosted titles like Skyrim, Red Dead Redemption and Metal Gear Solid. This is not just a family console anymore.

The Fear of Another Delay

While the May 2026 date has given the industry a temporary anchor, most believe another delay is coming.

Rockstar has already followed this pattern with its last two major titles.

One more slip, into October or November 2026, would align perfectly with hardware bundles, holiday shopping, and historical precedent.

In 2014, Sony sold 6.4 million PS4 units between October and December. That was more than double the consoles sold earlier that year.

The driver? Grand Theft Auto V launched on PS4 during that window.

It would make perfect sense for both Sony and Microsoft to prepare new console bundles featuring GTA VI for a similar holiday boost.

Still Room for Success

Despite fears, some publishers believe there’s still room for success alongside GTA VI.

When Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched alongside the Oblivion remake, it sold over one million copies in three days.

Kepler’s senior portfolio manager Matt Handrahan joked that it was the video game industry’s Barbenheimer moment.

But let’s not expect a quirky stunt alongside GTA VI in 2026. Most publishers will play it safe.

Titles like Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, Battlefield, and Exodus remain undated. Internally, teams are already scrambling to find the gaps between Rockstar’s movements.

Now that Rockstar has planted its flag, others may soon follow, but cautiously.

There’s no denying it: Grand Theft Auto VI’s delay has changed the course of the gaming industry.

From reshaping release calendars to redefining console sales strategy, its impact is vast and ongoing.

The delay highlights Rockstar’s internal evolution, signals a possible change in pricing models, and gives the industry a short-term reprieve.

But it also exposes the industry’s reliance on a single franchise to carry its hopes.

The pressure on Rockstar is immense. The expectations are historic. The potential is enormous. And the clock is ticking.