Former dev warns GTA 6 could face delays as late as ‘months out’

GTA 6 may still be a way's away yet.

GTA 6 cover
Image via Rockstar Games

Rumors recently surfaced that Grand Theft Auto 6 could be pushed back as far as 2026. But now, a former Rockstar Games lead has further fueled fears that the next GTA installment might need a lot more time and preparation before it becomes available to the general public. 

Recommended Videos

GTA 6 was officially announced in December 2023 and was initially scheduled to be released in late 2025 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. But that estimate may no longer be entirely accurate—or even realistic—according to a Rockstar insider. Obbe Vermeij, the former Rockstar North technical director, reminded fans on Twitter/X that the decision to delay GTA 4 came just four months before the intended release date. “Any further and it’s hard to make the call,” he said. Think of Rockstar’s decision as a stressful quick time event—perform the action too soon or too late, and it’s lights-out for the character. This comes after GTA 4 publisher Take-Two expressed confidence that there would be no delays to the game’s release.

Vermeij further articulated Rockstar is “probably not in a position to determine whether they will hit 2025 until May-ish.” That means fans may need to wait another eight agonizing months before there’s any confirmation as to whether GTA 6 will be sticking to the original plan or delaying the release until the following year. However, Rockstar’s long-running franchise is most certainly worth the wait. Some fans will no doubt approach the news with a “better late than never” attitude, but that doesn’t make it any easier of a pill to swallow.

It would be a smart move by Rockstar to delay GTA 6 until it’s ready, so as not to disappoint those who have patiently waited for over a decade. “GTA 6 will sell for 10+ years and there is no competition to worry about,” Vermeij said. “They are not going to release the game until they’re 100% happy with it. No matter what it said in the trailer. I have no inside info. Didn’t talk to anyone.”

Vermeij also seems confident that Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two, won’t be in any rush to force Rockstar’s hand and push for the game’s release until it’s as polished as it can be. It certainly wouldn’t make sense to doom the GTA 5 sequel unnecessarily just for the sake of a few extra months.

Author
Image of Chynna Mansfield
Chynna Mansfield
For over 7 years, Chynna has been a noteworthy presence within creative media. As a self- proclaimed geek and driven by a passion for horror, comic books, video games, and modern cinema, she takes pride in providing only the best publications. She likes to label herself as an innovative writer doing what she loves, especially when it concerns her favorite interests. Aside from personal written projects, she can be credited as an award-winning screenwriter, published poet, and accomplished academic writer. She has taken the media industry by storm, producing short stories, screenplays, articles, features, and poetry that thoroughly engage, excite and thrill those fortunate enough to read them. She enjoys watching anime, horror movies, and animated shows; her life revolves around cinema, video games, and tasteful literature.