The release of the highly anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto 6, has been postponed by Rockstar Games to May 26, 2026. Originally slated for a 2025 launch, this delay is significant within the gaming industry.
Carly Kocurek, a Professor of Digital Humanities and Media Studies at Illinois Tech, views the postponement positively. She suggests it may indicate Rockstar's commitment to improving labor practices. “Rockstar has had a bad reputation for labor practices; it’s because they really were notorious for ‘crunch,’” she notes, referring to past reports of extreme working hours during the development of Red Dead Redemption 2. Kocurek is hopeful that the delay reflects a shift in how deadlines and worker welfare are approached.
Kocurek also emphasizes that delays can be beneficial if they lead to better quality games. “If you delay the game but it’s good, everyone will forget that it was late,” she says. The Grand Theft Auto series is known for its innovative "sandbox" style games, and this latest installment aims to continue that tradition.
The impact of this delay extends beyond Rockstar Games as other developers have scheduled their releases around Grand Theft Auto 6. The franchise's reputation for setting industry standards in graphics and worldbuilding adds pressure on Rockstar to deliver an impressive AAA game.
Kocurek raises questions about market trends: “Grand Theft Auto is almost the traditional idea of what a gamer is: people who want really big, intense games... Is that still where the market is? Or could the industry actually be moving toward tiny mobile games or match-three games?” She highlights the risks involved when investing heavily in such projects based on consumer assumptions.