GTA 6 is scheduled for release in 2025 – but a delay could threaten the existence of some studios, according to a new report.
The release of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated events in the video game industry. Originally planned for fall 2025 , however, a delay of the title could have far-reaching consequences for the entire industry.
Analysts warn that companies that have aligned their release strategies with the planned release of GTA 6 could suffer financial disadvantages if the release is postponed
A balancing act for developers and publishers
Many game studios carefully plan their own releases around the launch of blockbusters like GTA 6 to avoid direct competition. Because games like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto are in a popularity class of their own ; when another title is released around the release of such a heavyweight, it usually gets completely lost in the online discourse of the experience.
An unexpected delay of GTA 6 could disrupt the plans of affected developers and lead to financial bottlenecks, says Ben Porter, an analyst at the consulting firm Newzoo
“Everyone we talk to is trying to avoid talking about the big iceberg that is GTA 6.” (Ben Porter of Newzoo)
Porter emphasizes the fragility of the current market situation and warns that some companies would not survive a delay of several months “If you’re a gaming company holding your breath until GTA 6 comes out, and then it gets delayed three, four, five, six months, what do you do?”
He adds: “Either you have to be able to launch into this big black hole that’s been left open now, or extend it for another six months – I’m sure some companies will be driven to ruin by that.”
For Publisher Take Two Interactive the financial outlook is much rosier: GTA 6 could cost 100 euros.
Potential opportunities despite uncertainties
Despite the risks, some experts also see opportunities in a possible delay. Greg Rice, senior curator of Day of the Devs, believes that the release of GTA 6 will mean a significant economic boost for the industry.
He argues that the excitement surrounding the title could bring players back to the gaming ecosystem and that smaller games could also benefit from it. But Rice also says: “I hear from a lot of developers who are concerned that [GTA 6, editor’s note] will take up all the space: ‘I don’t want to come out during GTA week or even month because that’s all people will play.’”
“But I think the industry is mature enough that there’s room for that and other things. There will be a combination of ‘there will be games that will be successful during the GTA period because they are completely different’, but it will also bring many more people back into the ecosystem.”
Speculation about the release date
The uncertainties surrounding the release of GTA 6 are intensified by reports from Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier. He predicts that internal delays at Rockstar Games will push the original fall 2025 launch date into 2026.
Even Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick does not want to categorically rule out a delay at this point. What is almost certain, however, is that the PC release of GTA 6 will probably not take place for several months or even a whole year after the console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
