Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) is set to be released by Rockstar Games soon, and the innumerable rumours swirling around indicate when their next cash cow will come out. Although the official time given by Rockstar is sometime in Fall 2025, no definite date has ever been confirmed, and fans are now poring through industry analyses, corporate statements, and not to mention the calendars of other big-name game releases to try to determine when the game might drop.
In light of recent events, the release plans of Take-Two Interactive itself, and competitive releases, take the whole business of what is called setting up releases by Rockstar. In this case, everything is considered carefully just so as not to allow other competing franchises to usurp the launch of GTA 6. Death Stranding 2 and Mafia: The Old Country should have vacated some room to indicate credibly that Rockstar is still aiming toward a Fall 2025 release.
Take-Two Interactive, parent of Rockstar Games, has been making public references to GTA 6's expected launch dates, consistently standing by the Fall 2025 release window. However, as Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick stated on a recent quarterly earnings call, "There's always a risk of slippage," acknowledging that there could be delays.
Moreover, Take-Two is aiming for a release date of September 23, 2025, for Borderlands 4. With GTA 6 being the centre of attraction, it would not make much sense for Rockstar to want to position the release of its most hyped title close to another big release under the same corporate umbrella. Rather, the firm may be looking to have a later release date within the Fall window, say October or November, when the gaming space is ready for holiday sales.
Rockstar itself is still mum, but the broader gaming world seems to be clearing the decks for GTA 6. A tweet by GTA 6 Countdown read, "Death Stranding 2 and Mafia The Old Country launching this summer are great indications that GTA 6 is still releasing this fall, as the industry is clearing the way for it, knowing there's no competition." (sic)
This reasoning makes sense. Death Stranding 2 has been announced for June 26, 2025, and Mafia: The Old Country, another Take-Two-owned game, is coming out in the summer. Placing these games away from the Fall 2025 window, heavily implies that Take-Two is keeping no distractions around when GTA 6 finally releases.
The other major game release, Directive 8020, is on October 2, so an early to mid-October GTA 6 launch could create some conflict. If Rockstar wishes to steer clear of competition, late October or November would be best.
Historically, Rockstar has liked to release GTA games in September or October. Grand Theft Auto V came out on September 17, 2013, and GTA IV was released on April 29, 2008, following several delays. If Rockstar is going to stick with historical trends, an October release might be a good bet.
The fiscal situation of the gaming industry also comes into play. Take-Two Interactive has been identified by analysts as a top stock choice during market volatility, mainly because of the anticipated revenue surge from GTA 6. Projections are that the game may sell more than 35 million units in its first year, ranking it among the best-selling video games of all time. With this financial forecast, Take-Two would most probably seek to maximise profits by scheduling the launch during peak consumer spending times, including Black Friday and the holiday season.
Although the majority of indicators are leaning toward a Fall 2025 release, the gaming world is accustomed to delays. Rockstar has a history of waiting until games are perfect before letting them out the door, and with a game as ambitious as GTA 6, unforeseen obstacles may delay the date further into 2026.
But with the strategic placing of other big game launches and financial investment at stake, Take-Two and Rockstar are probably doing everything in their power to hit their Fall 2025 goal. Fans might have had to wait more than a decade for this day, but another delay would be a bitter pill to swallow.
All the industry signs indicate that GTA 6 will stick to its Fall 2025 release window. The positioning of Death Stranding 2, Mafia: The Old Country, and Borderlands 4 indicates that the gaming world is gearing up for Rockstar's next big step.
While there is no official release date yet, the best guess for fans is a possible release in mid-October to November. Yet, with Zelnick's guarded comment about delay possibilities, nothing is set in stone until Rockstar will eventually come forward. For now, all attention is kept focused on the gaming giant as hype continues to build for one of the most anticipated games in history.