Rockstar Games has quietly confirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI will not be arriving as early as fans had hoped. Following reports of a second delay, the game’s release date has now been moved to November 19, 2026, according to updated files on Rockstar’s official website. Some players prefer to buy GTA 5 modded accounts instead of starting from scratch, especially with GTA 6 still far away.

This delay comes with a massive financial impact. Sources suggest that each month of delay costs Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games around $10 million, leading to an estimated $60–100 million in additional expenses before launch. However, given the scale of GTA 6’s expected success, this cost will likely be recovered within minutes of pre-orders going live.

Updated Trailers and the New Release Date
Players recently noticed that Rockstar quietly modified the downloadable versions of GTA 6’s first two trailers. While the YouTube uploads still display the original May 26, 2025 release date, the downloadable versions on Rockstar’s website now show November 19, 2026.

This small but significant change has worried fans. In the past, Rockstar only updated trailer release dates when new trailers were ready to launch. For instance, Trailer 1’s release date was changed only after Trailer 2 debuted. Now, however, both Trailer 1 and Trailer 2 have been updated before Trailer 3’s release — hinting that the next trailer may still be far off.

Signs of a Last-Minute Decision
Many within the community believe this latest delay was a last-minute decision. Typically, Rockstar updates all marketing materials — artwork, banners, and social media headers — simultaneously with a delay announcement. Yet this time, it took several days for the company to adjust official assets and dates.

This slow rollout suggests that the decision to postpone the game may have been made unexpectedly, possibly due to internal development challenges or quality assurance concerns.

Historical Patterns Suggest a Long Wait
Looking back at Rockstar’s history provides some context. Red Dead Redemption 2 also faced two major delays before launch. The second RDR2 trailer dropped in September 2017, followed by a delay announcement in February 2018. The game finally released in October that same year — with Trailer 3 arriving just five months before launch.

If Rockstar follows this same pattern for GTA 6, the next trailer might not appear until April or May 2026, roughly 8 months before release. This would align with Rockstar’s traditional marketing rhythm, where final trailers and detailed previews appear only a few months before launch.

A Hope for Holiday Content
While the wait for Trailer 3 may be longer than expected, fans are still holding out hope for some kind of holiday content. Back in 2012, Rockstar celebrated the holidays with a “Happy Holidays” post that included new GTA 5 screenshots. A similar gesture this year — perhaps a few GTA 6 images or behind-the-scenes shots — could help ease the disappointment caused by the latest delay.

Possible Future Reveal Windows
Rockstar’s release strategy often coincides with Take-Two Interactive’s earnings calls, which occur quarterly. The next financial calls are scheduled for February and May 2026, making them the most likely windows for new GTA 6 updates or trailer drops.

If no major content appears during the 2025 holiday season, the next major news could arrive in early 2026 — potentially aligning with the February earnings call.

What the Delay Means for Fans
The GTA community has waited more than a decade since GTA 5’s release in 2013, making this latest delay especially difficult for long-time fans. Despite frustrations, Rockstar’s consistent focus on polish and quality has historically paid off with groundbreaking releases.

Although the news of another delay and the uncertainty around Trailer 3 are disappointing, they may indicate that Rockstar is committed to delivering GTA 6 as a truly next-generation open-world experience — one worthy of the immense anticipation surrounding it.

The second delay of Grand Theft Auto VI pushes its release to November 19, 2026, extending the wait for one of the most anticipated games in history. With trailer updates, missed marketing beats, and parallels to Red Dead Redemption 2’s timeline, fans may not see Trailer 3 until spring 2026.

Despite the setback, expectations remain sky-high. Whether Rockstar breaks tradition and surprises fans with holiday content or sticks to its slow, calculated marketing schedule, GTA 6 is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious titles the studio has ever created.