GTA 6 is one of the most anticipated games, and it’s clear why. Fans of the franchise have been eagerly waiting for the next chapter from Rockstar Games. But it’s not just gamers who are anxious about its release. Video game publishers are also eagerly awaiting the launch of the next Grand Theft Auto, for several important reasons.
The Consequences of a GTA 6 Delay
According to senior consultant Ben Porter from Newzoo, who spoke with PC Gamer at the GDC in San Francisco, if GTA 6 gets delayed, it could spell trouble for several companies.
Porter explains, “If you’re a game company who’s holding its breath waiting for GTA 6 to get out, and then it gets delayed by three, four, five, six months, what do you do?”
“You either have to be able to launch into that big black hole that’s been left open now, or you have to extend your run rate by an additional six months—I’m certain some companies are going to tank as a result of that, right?”
Currently, it’s believable that many developers and publishers are hesitant to announce the release dates for their games in the second half of the year because they fear releasing too close to GTA 6. But if these companies decided to push their games to early 2026 to avoid a clash, they could face a serious issue if Rockstar Games also decides to delay its game.
The Risk of Competing with Rockstar Games
PC Gamer also suggests that Borderlands 4, scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, may indicate that GTA 6 won’t launch around that time. Borderlands 4 is published by Take-Two, which is also the parent company of Rockstar Games. It seems unlikely they would release two major titles so close together, but this is still speculation.
