Summary
Grand Theft Auto 6publisher Take-Two Interactive’s stock price plummeted by nearly 11 percent following the game’s recent delay. Originally slated for release in fall 2025,GTA 6will now launch on Jun 12, 2025, which brings significant implications for Take-Two Interactive’s financial outlook.
Arguably the most anticipated game in history,GTA 6’s initially-planned fall 2025 launchwas seen by Take-Two investors as a massive cash cow for the company’s current fiscal year. The game’s predecessor, GTA 5, is nearly 12 years old but remains in the upper echelons of sales charts, and at over 210 million copies sold, is the second best-selling game of all time. GTA 6 is expected to surpass the record-shattering success ofGTA 5, but now that its launch has been pushed into Take-Two’s fiscal year 2027, projections for near-term growth have been shaken.
The market reacted swiftly to thenews ofGTA 6’s delay, with Take-Two stock dipping to $209.96, a near 11 percent drop from its $235.17 value at market close on Thursday. In response, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick issued a public statement backing Rockstar’s decision to delay the game. “We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision,” Zelnick said, highlightingGTA 6as a “groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience.” He also noted that Take-Two anticipates record levels of revenue in both fiscal 2026 and 2027, despite the scheduling shift.
Take-Two to Rely on its Upcoming 2025 Games to Fill the Void Left By GTA 6
In the meantime, Take-Two is leaning on its broader games portfolio to fill the gap left byGTA 6’s delay. Upcoming Take-Two releases includeBorderlands 4(coming September 12) andMafia: The Old Country(rumored to launch on August 8), both of which are expected to contribute solid revenue. Sports fans can also expect the next annual NBA installment -NBA 2K26- from 2K Sports. Longer-term projects such as thenextBioShockgameand Ken Levine’sJudasare in development as well, but aren’t anticipated to impact the immediate fiscal horizon in the wayGTA 6was expected to.
GTA 6fans are understandably disheartened over the delay, even more so considering it’s the first piece of official news Rockstar has shared about the game since the debut of its first trailer in December 2023. Many had hoped for at least anewGTA 6screenshot or trailerto soften the blow of the delay, but that didn’t happen. However, Rockstar did mention in the delay announcement that it plans to share more information aboutGTA 6"soon," and Take-Two has an earnings call slated for Thursday, May 15.
