Take‑Two CEO: “We’ve never regretted” delaying GTA 6 as it slips again, warns companies that ignored delays “at their peril”

GTA 6 has been delayed once more, but Strauss Zelnick — CEO of Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games’ parent company — says the firm has “never regretted” postponing a release when more time is needed.

Originally scheduled for this fall, GTA 6 was moved to May 26, 2026 earlier in the year, and has now been pushed again to November 19, 2026. While an additional delay of nearly six months is significant, Zelnick told investors on Take-Two’s most recent earnings call that the decision reflects “a desire to deliver as perfect an entertainment experience as we possibly can, and to try to live up to consumers’ extraordinary expectations, and then exceed those expectations.”

Zelnick acknowledged that “it’s always painful when we move a date,” but noted that while Take-Two has delayed releases on occasion, “we’ve never regretted it in retrospect.” He added: “I would like to point out that we have some competitors that, in the event where more polish was required and it required slipping a date, they chose not to slip the date, and they did so at their peril.”

Zelnick didn’t name names, but there are clear examples of high-profile launches that suffered from premature release. CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 famously shipped in a troubled state and required extensive updates to reach its current form. More recently, MindsEye — the GTA-like action-adventure from former Rockstar president Leslie Benzies — launched with numerous bugs and performance issues that harmed its reception.

Ultimately, delaying GTA 6 appears to be a prudent choice, even if it’s disappointing for fans. Zelnick reiterated this point in a separate interview with IGN, saying there have been occasions when “more time was required to polish a title and make sure that it was spectacular,” and warning that when competitors release products before they are ready, “bad things happen.” Read his full remarks on IGN.

Don’t worry too much about the delay — Take-Two’s CEO also noted that GTA 5 remains “the most technologically advanced title in the marketplace” even after 12 years.