Development of GTA 6GTA 6 has encountered difficulties and the game is expected to be delayed until late 2025 at the earliest.
You may recall that a few weeks ago, Rockstar Games instructed developers to stop working from home and return to the office, which was unpopular among many of them. Initially, it was thought to be a measure to monitor employees closely, but a new report indicates that it was due to concerns about the progress of Grand Theft Auto 6 being behind schedule.
The The reveal trailer in December was impressive, but also significantly advanced compared to current video games. The creation of an open world game with the expected level of detail and freedom from a GTA game will require a tremendous amount of effort. Previously, most speculation pointed to an early 2025 release date, with a recent rumor even suggesting a
specific date in February , but it appears increasingly unlikely and a delay until 2026 is now a real possibility.The new report indicates that development is 'falling behind', with the current target still set for a spring 2025 release. However, an autumn launch is now considered more probable, and a delay until 2026 is seen as an 'emergency' option.
Rockstar had only committed to a 2025 release, so there would be no need to announce a delay unless it was pushed back a whole year, but senior staff are evidently concerned.
The report on
indicates that the next trailer may not hint at any delay, even if there is one, as Rockstar typically makes decisions at the last minute. There is currently no indication of when the second trailer might be released. Kotaku Developers are also worried that if the game is behind schedule, Rockstar may expect them to participate in 'the crunch', requiring longer hours and weekend work – some of which may not be compensated.
Until a few years ago, the crunch was commonplace at many developers, with Rockstar being
one of the worst offenders , but reports suggest they have improved in recent years.It's highly unlikely that Rockstar – known for their secrecy – will make any public comments on these matters, but if the next trailer still lists the release date as 2025, it might not necessarily be accurate.
Development of GTA 6 is reportedly not going smoothly, and the game is expected to be delayed until at least late 2025.
