GTA 6 was reportedly originally planned for a Spring 2025 release

During a conversation with David Serna, Strauss Zelnick briefly discussed the development timeline of Grand Theft Auto 6, a game widely expected to become one of the biggest entertainment launches in history.

While speaking about the pressure surrounding the title’s highly anticipated release, Zelnick revealed that GTA 6 is running around 18 months behind its original internal schedule.

“I think we’re about 18 months behind the original date,” Zelnick said during the podcast.

When Rockstar first unveiled GTA 6, the debut trailer only confirmed a 2025 release window. Although no exact launch period was announced at the time, Zelnick’s comments suggest the game may have originally been targeting Spring 2025.

Later, Take-Two Interactive narrowed the release window to Fall 2025, before officially delaying the game to May 26, 2026. The project was then postponed once again to November 2026.

Last week, speculation surrounding GTA 6 pre-orders intensified after reports surfaced about an email allegedly sent by Best Buy to members of its affiliate program, hinting that the campaign could begin soon.

Meanwhile, industry analysts continue debating the possible pricing of the blockbuster title. Earlier this month, a Bank of America analyst suggested Rockstar should consider pricing GTA 6 at $80, arguing that it could help normalize higher game prices across the industry.

According to securities analyst Omar Dessouky, continuing to sell major AAA games at the current $70 standard price point could make it harder for publishers to offset rising development costs.

Similar comments were made last year by analyst Matthew Ball, who claimed that some figures within the gaming industry hoped GTA 6 could launch at prices approaching $100, potentially opening the door for broader price increases amid inflation and soaring AAA development budgets.