Take-Two CEO on GTA 6 Delay: 'Painful but Necessary for Creative Vision'

Back in February, I had the chance to ask Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick about his confidence in hitting the fall 2025 release window for Grand Theft Auto 6. He expressed optimism, stating he felt "really good about it." However, just three months later, GTA 6 was postponed to May 26, 2026, a move that perhaps didn't surprise many.

Curious about what shifted in those few months, I revisited the topic with Zelnick in a new interview, aligning with Take-Two's latest financial disclosures. He explained that as GTA 6 neared completion, the necessity for additional polish became evident.

The delay pushes GTA 6 outside of Take-Two's current fiscal year, impacting short-term financials. Yet, Zelnick remains upbeat about the company's upcoming lineup, which includes Gearbox’s Borderlands 4, Hangar 13’s Mafia: The Old Country, and new additions to the NBA 2K and WWE 2K series.

“I feel really good about how Fiscal 26 looks sitting here today,” he remarked. “And while, of course, delays pain me — how could they not? — the most important thing to do is to support your teams in their search for perfection.”

GTA 6 Jason Duval Screenshots

View 6 ImagesWhen I posed the same question about confidence in meeting the new May 26, 2026, release date, Zelnick's response was even more affirmative:

“I think historically when we set a specific date, generally speaking, we've been very good about reaching it.”

This suggests a strong belief in meeting the new release date for GTA 6, though he leaves room for the unexpected. With an official date now set, another delay would indeed be surprising.

The release of GTA 6 Trailer 2 and the accompanying information from Rockstar have fueled speculation about what fans can expect from what's anticipated to be the biggest video game ever. Some enthusiasts speculate that Liberty City might feature in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC.

While we eagerly await further details, you can delve deeper into GTA 6 with our comprehensive coverage, including all the latest discoveries, a gallery of 70 new screenshots, and expert analysis on how the game might perform on the PS5 Pro.