GTA VI to get delayed to 2026? Rumours of launch postponement send developer's stock tumbling

Investor confidence in Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. took a hit on Monday as reports surfaced suggesting a potential delay in the release of the highly anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto VI, as reported by Bloomberg.

Shares of the video game company fell by 5.2 per cent in New York following a report by gaming site Kotaku, which indicated that production of the latest instalment in the Grand Theft Auto series might be falling behind schedule and could miss its projected 2025 release window.

According to sources familiar with the matter cited in the report, Rockstar Games, a division of Take-Two, is still aiming for an early 2025 release for the video game. However, there are growing concerns within the company’s leadership that the release could be pushed to a later date, potentially extending into 2026, as remote work challenges persist amid plans for a return to office mandates.

Take-Two Interactive did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg regarding the reported delay.

Analyst Nick McKay from Wedbush expressed concerns about investor reaction if Grand Theft Auto VI’s release date is indeed pushed beyond fiscal year 2025.

He emphasized that such a delay would confirm a longer wait than initially anticipated, potentially leading to a negative market response.

McKay suggested that Take-Two might attempt to mitigate this negativity through positive actions, such as releasing another Grand Theft Auto VI trailer or providing a positive outlook for fiscal year 2026.

Earlier in February, Bloomberg reported that Rockstar had instructed its employees to return to the office full-time starting in April as the development of Grand Theft Auto VI entered its final stages.

This decision followed multiple security breaches, including the unauthorized release of early footage from the game and a leaked trailer in December.

Since the release of the game’s trailer on December 4, Take-Two Interactive’s stock has experienced an over 8 per cent decline, contrasting with the modest growth of less than 1 per cent observed in the Nasdaq CTA Global Video Games & eSports Index during the same period.

(With inputs from agencies)