Take-Two delays ‘GTA VI’ for second time to November next year

Scenes from the trailer of "Grand Theft Auto VI" are shown on a smartphone and monitor in New York on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

Take-Two Interactive said on Thursday it expects to launch “Grand Theft Auto VI” on Nov. 19 next year, in the latest delay for the gaming industry’s most-anticipated title following the blockbuster success of its predecessor.

Shares of the company, which had previously said it would launch the title on May 26, were down seven per cent in extended trading.

This marks the second delay for the game — initially set for launch this year — and will further disappoint millions of fans who have waited for more than a decade for the next installment in the best-selling franchise.

“GTA VI” is expected to be a major catalyst that could spur console and hardware upgrades, giving a boost to the videogame industry growth at a time when gamers get choosy with titles and prefer sticking with proven franchises.

“We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve,” “GTA VI” developers Rockstar Games said in a statement.

Analysts expect the game to generate billions in sales within the first few weeks of launch due to the blowout success of its predecessor.

“GTA VI” is set to release 13 years after its predecessor, “Grand Theft Auto V,” took the industry by storm with its advanced graphics, gameplay mechanics, and realistic environments, making it one of the most profitable video games ever.

“With the most robust pipeline in our company’s history, we expect to achieve record levels of net bookings in fiscal 2027,” said Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick.

The company also raised its forecast for annual bookings to between US$6.40 billion and US$6.50 billion, compared with its prior forecast of between US$6.05 billion and US$6.15 billion, on the back of strong spending on its mobile and premium titles.

Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila