Take-Two CEO Explains GTA VI Delay: 'Pushing Hard to Seek Perfection'

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Take-Two CEO Explains GTA VI Delay: 'Pushing Hard to Seek Perfection'

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Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has stated that GTA VI's latest delay stems from Rockstar's relentless pursuit of perfection, just days after the studio faced accusations of union busting.

Chris Kerr, Senior Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com November 7, 2025 4 Min Read

Image via Rockstar

GTA VI has been delayed (again) and is now slated to launch on November 19, 2026. This new date is six months after its previously announced May 26, 2026, launch, and roughly a year after its initial target of Fall 2025.

This extensive delay means there will be a 13-year gap between GTA V and GTA VI when the latter eventually arrives. However, according to Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, this timeframe is simply what it takes to achieve perfection.

During the U.S. publisher's Q2 2026 earnings call, Zelnick highlighted Grand Theft Auto's status as the company's "standard-bearer." He argued that GTA V remains arguably the most technologically advanced title on the market, despite its origins on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, thanks to extensive updates and generational hardware transitions.

Without directly addressing the internal operations of Rockstar—which was recently accused of union busting by a group of ousted employees in the UK—Zelnick lauded the studio's culture, stating that the entire team is "pushing hard to seek perfection."

"GTA V, as you know, has been the standard-bearer not just for our company, but for the industry through three console generations, and to this day is still, I would argue, the most technologically advanced title in the marketplace despite that it's more than a decade old. And that doesn't happen by accident. So it's—Rockstar's culture is one of performance. Take-Two's culture as a whole, which is reflected in all of our labels is one of seeking excellence teamwork and kindness. And that's a recipe that works really, really well," Zelnick stated.

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"I can't deny that at any given time, if things don't go exactly as you'd like, there's some disappointment. But we're pretty good about brushing ourselves off and picking ourselves up and playing another day. And we've always done that. We learned from things that don't go as well as we'd like, and we aim to exceed all expectations, our own and those of our consumers. And we, frankly, rarely fall short, but we don't let that divert us either because we just try harder. And I think that defines what Rockstar is doing now and how they're feeling now."

Yesterday, Zelnick informed IGN that he is "highly confident" this is the final delay for GTA VI, reiterating that the additional development time will ensure the long-awaited sequel is "spectacular."

Grand Theft Auto VI Delay Announced Alongside 'Outstanding' Second Quarter Results

The delay was announced concurrently with Take-Two Interactive's financial results for the second quarter, which ended September 30, 2025. Zelnick and other executives confirmed that the company is performing quite well.

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Take-Two reported net bookings of $1.96 billion during Q2, significantly exceeding internal expectations.

"We had many achievements during the period: 2K launched three major titles, including NBA 2K26, which set multiple records and has been delivering an unprecedented level of in-game spending; our mobile business outperformed substantially, driven by our teams' unparalleled innovation in Live Services; and Grand Theft Auto Online continued to benefit from its highly-engaged community," Zelnick shared.

The long-serving chief executive noted that Mafia: The Old Country quickly surpassed internal expectations, reaffirming Take-Two's belief that consumers still desire "premium, narrative-driven experiences."

Borderlands 4 received a more mixed appraisal. While Zelnick praised the title for critical acclaim and achieving the highest Steam concurrent player count in franchise history, he acknowledged that technical issues also dominated its launch conversation. Unit sales figures were not specified, but Zelnick expressed confidence that the shooter would "achieve strong unit sales over its lifetime."

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As has become customary, Grand Theft Auto V continues to expand its audience, now having surpassed 220 million lifetime sales. "Players remain deeply engaged with Grand Theft Auto Online, which added holiday-themed jobs and rewards, as well as new vehicles, community events and outfits. GTA+ continued to increase its membership, achieving over 20 percent growth year-over-year," Zelnick added.

Take-Two is confident that Grand Theft Auto VI will deliver a "record-breaking launch" given its predecessor's overwhelming success. The company now anticipates achieving record levels of net bookings in Fiscal 2027 when the twice-delayed sequel finally hits shelves.

Read more about: Take-Two, Financial Reporting, Top Stories

About the Author

Chris Kerr Senior Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton.

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