The short answer
Rockstar Games has confirmed November 19, 2026 as the release date for Grand Theft Auto VI on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The date was set in November 2025 after a second delay, and Take-Two Interactive repeated it on later earnings calls. Pre-orders opened on June 25, 2026, and digital pre-loading starts on November 12, 2026.
Store listings show the game unlocking at midnight local time. If you want to know exactly when that is for you, use our countdown and unlock-time tool.
Full GTA 6 timeline
- Development confirmed
Rockstar publicly confirms that the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is in active development.
- Major leak
A large batch of early development footage leaks online. Rockstar confirms the leak and says development will continue unaffected. The footage was years away from finished and is not a reliable guide to the final game.
- Trailer 1
The first trailer arrives a few hours early after leaking. It reveals the return to Vice City, the state of Leonida, the character Lucia and a 2025 release window.
- First delay
Rockstar moves the game from fall 2025 to May 26, 2026, saying it needs more time to deliver the quality players expect.
- Trailer 2 and the official website
The second trailer introduces Jason and Lucia's story. Rockstar's website adds character profiles and descriptions of Leonida's regions.
- Second delay
The release moves again, from May 26, 2026 to November 19, 2026.
- Date reconfirmed
On Take-Two's earnings call, management reconfirms the November 19 date.
- Pre-orders open
Rockstar announces prices — $79.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition in the US — and opens pre-orders.
- Extended look
An extended gameplay look premieres on Netflix and later on YouTube. Rockstar does not count it as Trailer 3.
- Pre-load and boxed copies
Digital pre-loading begins. Boxed copies, which contain a download code rather than a disc, become available.
- Launch
GTA 6 releases on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Watch the first trailer
Rockstar revealed Grand Theft Auto VI with this trailer in December 2023. It plays from Rockstar's official YouTube channel.
Could GTA 6 be delayed again?
Nothing official suggests another delay. Take-Two has repeated the November 19 date publicly, pre-orders are live on all major storefronts, and a pre-load date has been set. Delays this close to launch, after pre-orders and pre-load dates are published, are rare for a game of this size. That said, we are reporting what has been announced, not making promises. If anything changes, this page will be updated the same day.
Why was GTA 6 delayed twice?
In both announcements, Rockstar said it needed more time to finish the game to the standard players expect. Rockstar has a history of moving release dates for its biggest games: Grand Theft Auto V slipped from spring to September 2013, and Red Dead Redemption 2 was delayed twice before releasing in October 2018. Both went on to become two of the best-selling games ever made.
Why is it only on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S?
Rockstar has announced GTA 6 for current-generation consoles only. It is not coming to PS4 or Xbox One. A PC version has not been announced; Rockstar has historically released PC versions of its games later. Read more in our PC release guide.
How long has GTA 6 been in development?
Rockstar has not given an official start date. Development was publicly confirmed in February 2022, and Grand Theft Auto V launched in September 2013, so GTA 6 arrives just over 13 years after its predecessor — the longest gap between main entries in the series' history.