Analyst believes GTA 6 release date delay is a "flex", with Rockstar Games likely to benefit

Analysts have multiple theories about why Rockstar Games pushed the GTA 6 release date to November 2026. Industry expert Joost van Dreunen explains that the added time allows the studio to further polish the game. However, he thinks it’s unlikely that Rockstar or Take-Two Interactive is panicking. Instead, the move is a “flex” that could lead to more revenue once GTA 6 ships.

Van Dreunen recently spoke to Games Radar about the latest GTA 6 news. He reveals that despite Take-Two’s stock initially falling by 8%, investors haven’t lost faith in Rockstar. According to van Dreunen, they remain confident that the game “will deliver its projected $2.7 billion launch windfall”.

Unlike with most games, Rockstar feels little pressure to finish its project as soon as possible. In fact, with each GTA 6 release date delay, the hype surrounding the title multiplies. The researcher says that for the studio, “anticipation is its most valuable currency”. He notes that setbacks with past GTA games had no negative financial impact.

An industry-shaking GTA 6 announcement

The change of plans could also allow Take-Two to conquer the lucrative 2026 holiday season. Rockstar is aware that rivals must adjust their schedules to accommodate GTA 6’s arrival.

Insiders like Tom Henderson agree with Van Dreunen that fine-tuning a "content ready game" will benefit it at launch. Additionally, the extra effort may result in more staying power years after its debut. Meanwhile, some companies release unfinished titles and never recover from having to play catch-up.

Because Rockstar Studios is so tight-lipped, no outsider truly knows the state of GTA 6. Some gamers believe the recent layoffs, which the studio claims are related to leaks, could be a sign of wider issues. It’s also possible that creating a massively detailed open world for players has led to unforeseen technical roadblocks.