Scenes from the trailer of Grand Theft Auto VI are shown on a smartphone and monitor in New York on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)
Grand Theft Auto fans will have to wait a little while longer to play the most recent edition of the wildly successful video game series.
Rockstar Games said in a post on X Friday that Grand Theft Auto VI would not be released until May 26, 2026. It expressed regret for the postponement of a game whose release has been discussed for years. It gave no explanation as to why the publication date was rescheduled from this fall.
"We have always tried to go above and beyond your expectations with the games we have released, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no different," the company stated in a statement. "We hope you understand that to deliver at the caliber you deserve and expect, we need this additional time."
The parent company of Rockstar, Take-Two Interactive, saw a nearly 7% decline in its shares on Friday.
In a statement, Take-Two Interactive Software chairman and CEO Strauss Zelnick defended Rockstar, saying the business is taking more time to fulfill its artistic vision. "A groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience that exceeds audience expectations" is still what it expects, he added.
"We remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence, even though we take the movement of our titles seriously and appreciate the vast and deep global anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI," Zelnick said in a statement. "We anticipate a multi-year period of business growth and increased value for our shareholders as we continue to release our incredible pipeline."
Since it has been hinted that the game will be launched in 2024 and then this year, fans responded to the delay with both sadness and a shrug.
Several gamers commented on a Reddit discussion site devoted to the game that they have seen this before and wouldn't be shocked if the release was postponed once more. Others adopted a more upbeat stance, stating that a precise release date indicates that it will truly occur this time.
When a game trailer was leaked online in 2023, it was one of the last occasions the game generated this much excitement. Citing the leak, Rockstar at the time unveiled the first preview of the sixth game fifteen hours ahead of schedule.
Fans were given a preview of the game's upcoming content in that 90-second trailer. According to the trailer, the upcoming film would take place in the Miami-inspired Vice City and feature Lucia, the franchise's first female lead.
It's unknown if Grand Theft Auto VI will still include any or all of these aspects as a result of the delay.
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