(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
The anticipated release of GTA 6 has been postponed to May 2026, reducing the expected game offerings for the latter half of 2025. Though just one game, its absence leaves a significant void, with analysts predicting sustained industry impact. Yet, opportunities might arise from this gap.
Originally expected to boost the gaming industry by re-engaging audiences and investment, GTA 6 was poised to affect the console market intensely. Analysts believe this delay could grant other companies a rare respite, though the overall forecast remains uncertain without the anticipated upsurge.
According to Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, studios planning to release games in late 2025 can now breathe easier without GTA 6‘s looming shadow. This shift gives Nintendo an advantageous period to capitalize with their holiday lineup, while Sony and Microsoft can adjust their strategies without this blockbuster looming over their schedules.
Toto predicts 2025 will prominently feature Nintendo, with Nintendo Switch 2 taking center stage amidst lighter competition from the late-cycle PlayStation and Xbox entrants. While some developers can now strategize around this new timing, others like Devolver Digital might directly engage with the challenge.
Joost van Dreunen from NYU notes that without GTA 6 dominating the market, late 2025 opens up for other major publishers. However, he adds that these companies can’t depend on the cultural surge a GTA launch produces. They’ll need to create their own spotlight, a difficult task in a fragmented market.
Van Dreunen also explains that Rockstar‘s delay isn’t a misstep; it’s their methodical strategy. By launching in May 2026, GTA 6 will benefit from a larger audience with fewer rivals, akin to GTA 5‘s past success. This timing coincides with a new wave of PS5 and Xbox Series X owners post-holiday season, a beneficial situation for Rockstar.
David Cole from DFC Intelligence expresses that while the delay is disappointing, it’s not entirely unexpected. With a substantial number of gamers yet to upgrade to the latest consoles, GTA 6 was anticipated to be a catalyst for increased PS5 and Xbox Series X|S sales in 2025, a contributor now absent from the equation.
As industry dynamics shift, Circana games lead Mat Piscatella reflects on the altered landscape: the industry’s mantra has moved from ‘survive to 2025’ to ‘survive through 2025’. Van Dreunen concurs that the industry might tread cautiously without GTA 6 to drive momentum, marking 2025 as a year of restraint.
Piscatella emphasizes that while there are no clear winners with this delay, the lack of a significant launch could have invigorated console sales and investor interest. Meanwhile, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick reassures investors, promising an unparalleled entertainment experience that justifies the wait.
At the same time, Xbox‘s recent price increases add to the industry’s challenges, with analysts like Piscatella noting the implications on social media. He suggests that GTA 6 was set to be a pivotal factor in the holiday success narrative, underscoring its absence’s significant impact. Insider commentary suggests the GTA 6 delay was long anticipated within Rockstar, hinting at the extended timeline for quite some time.