Take-Two CEO on GTA 6 Delay: 'Painful but Necessary for Creative Vision'

Back in February, I had the chance to speak with Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, about the anticipated release of GTA 6, which was then slated for fall 2025. At the time, Zelnick expressed a high level of confidence, stating he felt "really good about it." Fast forward to three months later, and to the surprise of few, the release of GTA 6 was pushed back to May 26, 2026.

Curious about what shifted in such a short span, I revisited the topic with Zelnick during a new interview coinciding with Take-Two's latest financial results. He explained that as GTA 6 neared its launch, the necessity for additional polish became evident. "As we get closer to completion of a title that's seeking perfection, the needs or lack thereof, for continued polish become clear," Zelnick remarked. He emphasized that with a slight extension, they believed Rockstar Games could fully realize its creative vision without any compromises. "And I supported, of course, that approach," he added.

The delay of GTA 6 beyond Take-Two's current fiscal year and into the next poses a short-term challenge to the company's financial performance. However, Zelnick remains optimistic about future projects, including Gearbox's Borderlands 4, Hangar 13's Mafia: The Old Country, and new additions to the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series. "I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today," he stated, acknowledging the pain of delays but underscoring the importance of supporting the teams in their quest for perfection.

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Repeating my question from February about the confidence in hitting the new release date of May 26, 2026, Zelnick's response was even more assured this time around. "I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it," he said. This suggests a strong commitment to the new date for GTA 6, implying that another delay would be highly unexpected.

The release of GTA 6 Trailer 2 and the accompanying information from Rockstar has fueled a wave of speculation among fans about what to expect from this monumental game. Some enthusiasts are even theorizing that Liberty City might make an appearance in GTA 6, either at launch or as part of post-launch DLC.

As the anticipation builds, we continue to provide comprehensive coverage on GTA 6, including all the latest discoveries, a collection of 70 new screenshots, and expert analysis on how GTA 6 might perform on the PS5 Pro.