TL;DR
- Confirmed release date: November 19, 2026
- Platforms at launch: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
- No PC release announced (expected late 2027 to mid-2028 based on Rockstar’s pattern)
- Originally scheduled: May 26, 2026 — delayed by Rockstar in May 2025
- Reason cited: the need for additional polish
When does GTA 6 come out?
Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026, exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. The date was confirmed by Rockstar Games in their May 2025 Newswire announcement, which also acknowledged the delay from the originally planned May 26, 2026 release.
This is the most-anticipated entertainment release of 2026 — and quite possibly of the entire current console generation.
The delay: what changed and why
When Rockstar first announced a release window for GTA 6 alongside their iconic Trailer 1 in December 2023, they targeted “Fall 2025.” That window narrowed to May 26, 2026 in early 2024, before being pushed once more to November 19, 2026.
In their official statement, the studio said the game needed additional time to “polish and perfect the experience.” For a game of GTA 6’s expected scope — its open-world ambition, the dual-protagonist structure, the return to Vice City after 24 years — this kind of extra runway is consistent with Rockstar’s history.
Red Dead Redemption 2 was delayed twice from its original Fall 2017 window before launching in October 2018. Rockstar’s commitment to polish has been part of every major launch they’ve made.
Platforms at launch
GTA 6 launches as a PS5 and Xbox Series X|S exclusive. This is the first mainline GTA to ship only on current-generation consoles. GTA V infamously launched on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013 and has been re-released on every console generation since.
The exclusion of PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch is consistent with Rockstar’s pattern of pushing graphical fidelity to its absolute limit — and previous-generation hardware simply cannot support what they’re building.
What about PC?
There is no PC release date announced. Take-Two and Rockstar have remained tight-lipped about PC since Trailer 1 dropped.
Looking at Rockstar’s history with PC ports gives the most reasonable prediction:
- GTA V — console launch September 17, 2013 → PC release April 14, 2015 (18-month gap)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 — console launch October 26, 2018 → PC release November 5, 2019 (13-month gap)
Based on these patterns, expect a PC release somewhere between November 2027 and May 2028. Take-Two has historically used the PC gap to maximize console sales — a pattern they’re unlikely to break for their largest release ever.
If you’re a PC player wondering whether to wait or buy a console, we cover the case for/against in our GTA 6 vs GTA 5 comparison (coming soon).
What about Switch 2?
Take-Two has not confirmed a Nintendo Switch 2 version of GTA 6. Given the hardware demands and Rockstar’s no-port-to-weaker-hardware pattern, a Switch 2 version is unlikely at launch — though Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has previously spoken positively about the Switch 2 as a platform for the company’s catalog more broadly. Don’t expect day-one parity.
Will it delay again?
Take-Two has staked its 2026 fiscal year on this release — they’ve publicly committed to the November 19, 2026 date across multiple earnings calls. A further delay would be a significant credibility hit and a real shareholder issue.
That said, Rockstar’s history shows they will delay rather than ship something they’re not satisfied with. The probability of a small slip (4–8 weeks) is non-zero. The probability of a major delay (3+ months, pushing into 2027) is low based on current public signaling.
When can you pre-order?
Pre-orders have not opened yet. Based on Rockstar’s historical pattern, expect pre-orders to go live between July and September 2026, with the most likely window being early August.
For the complete breakdown of expected editions, pricing, and where to buy when pre-orders open, see our GTA 6 Pre-Order Guide.
What’s confirmed about GTA 6 so far
Beyond the release date, here’s what Rockstar has officially confirmed:
- Setting: Leonida (a fictional state based on Florida), with Vice City returning as the primary metropolis
- Dual protagonists: Jason and Lucia
- Trailer 1 released: December 5, 2023 (over 100 million views in 24 hours)
- Engine: RAGE (Rockstar Advanced Game Engine)
- Time period: confirmed as the modern day
Everything else — pricing, edition contents, online structure, map size, weapon roster, vehicle count — is either unconfirmed or based on insider reports and dataminer analysis.
Track the countdown
We’re updating this page every time Rockstar releases new release-date information. Bookmark it for the latest.
- ✅ Confirmed release date (Nov 19, 2026)
- ⏳ Official pre-order opening date
- ⏳ PC release date announcement
- ⏳ Console bundle reveals
- ⏳ Any further updates from Rockstar