GTA 6 is delayed, we shouldn't be surprised, Rockstar has a long history
Blog Andrew Joseph 03 May , 2025 0

Take a deep breath and remember: the delay is good.
OK, that's not the saying always Yes, but usually. Delayed projects can sometimes lead to bad games (look at you, Duke Nuukum 3D), but spending more time can produce good things. It takes a few weeks to get the right thing in art, just like finding brave enough to throw out ideas that seem wise but never get stuck. Think of the semi-complete game you have purchased and played and then hope the publisher has just postponed until it is right and ready. Did you think of it in your mind? OK, please catch it.
GTA 6 yes Delaywhich is good because it may be better.
Rockstar has a long history of delaying games to make sure they are ready for the market, which is a very stable discipline to put them in the studio’s elite world with Nintendo, wait until the casserole is fully cooked before it is cooked. And boys, always delicious.
I've been playing GTA games all the time, as long as they keep playing, starting with a four-person PC GTA LAN party. The most obscure (London 1969), the best (GTA V) and the real best (Chinatown Wars of DS). For decades, I've robbed, crashed, shot these stupid, beautiful worlds. Thankfully, these games are always late actually…and coincidentally, always great. This is every delay in GTA history (and some red deaths).
Great Theft Automatic III
Rockstar’s New York office is only a few blocks from the World Trade Center and, after the September 11 attacks, wasted no time on a brief delay in the GTA III. . Terry Donovan, Vice President of Marketing Delay announced A few days after the tragedy:
“Our decision was based on two factors, firstly, it was a little difficult to complete the work in downtown Manhattan last week because the basic communications infrastructure was intermittent at best, and secondly, we believe that for all of our witnesses in the U.S. last week, we have to do a full content review of all the titles we represent, and that we are absolutely necessary for us for all the marketing materials we use.”
He continued: “As for Grand Theft Auto, the review is not short because the game is so big. We've come across some small context references that are no longer satisfied with, and a few very rare game instances that are no longer suitable for us. We're waiting for this game for you and everyone, but you're certainly what you expect, but I'm sure it's your fact and I can understand my own reasons. Release in late October.”
Even with only minimal content changes, delays are a wise decision for Rockstar and players. Shortly after the violent deaths of thousands of people, police and ambulances in Liberty City won’t attract anyone.
The Big Theft Car: Deputy City and The Big Theft Car: San Andreas
Shared between the Deputy City and San Andreas with the shortest delays. The past few days before the downloadable game stores and one-day patches, manufacturers guessed in advance how much physical products they would need to produce on a given shelf date, and sometimes they guessed the error. Rock Star Delayed Deputy City By 7 days ago, they had time to make more discs (and thus met the huge one-day demand for GTA III follow-up).
San Andreas' PS2 is also a week later than planned streets The strategic decision is designed to provide the development team with an additional few days to polish their two-year project.
Grand Theft Auto: Deputy City Story and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
OK, real talk: GTA handheld gaming gets tough…hard enough, worth a try except for your old PlayStation portable or DS. GTA's excellent attempts at portable devices usually arrive on time, but the PSP's sub-city story Delayed for two weeks In North America, longer in parts of Europe.
The best GTA of them (fight me!) didn't arrive accurately. Incredible creativity and intricate DS Gamechit shelves Two months later Exceed expectations. When it finally arrived, it blows away the critic's socks, which was one of the huge tragedies of Gaming, no one bought it… If they had a new Switch 2s now, we might be playing Chinatown Wars 3 on the new Switch 2s.
Big Theft Automatic IV
After GTA III changed the landscape of video games, expectations for GTA IV were obvious. The rest of the clumsy rendering software and working with a brand new console, Rockstar Leeds aims to be the stratosphere. Bring their vision into reality ultimate demands A few months of delay.
As Rockstar's Sam Hause explains: “The new console (PS3 and 360) enables us to create the huge theft automatic game we dreamt of. Every aspect of the game and its design have completely transformed. The game is huge. The game pushes the hardware platform to an absolute limit. Sony and Microsoft's top engineers are working hard with Edinbur's advanced efforts, now can work on EdInbur, now can work on it. Our goal is to exceed the maximum expectations of game fans and create the ultimate HD video game experience.”
Big Theft Automatic V
The largest console game ever was a long time. The GTA V finally landed in September 2013, but was initially expected to arrive in the spring of the same year. But in late January 2013, Rockstar has published the following information:
“We know it's about four months behind the original plan, and we know that this short delay will disappoint many of you, but trust us, it will be worth it. GTAV is a very ambitious and complex game that requires more polish, just be our standard, we can accept all the loyalty, and to give a huge loyalty, we need delay. Yes.
They are not wrong. GTA V continues to be the most successful console game ever, along with RDR2, it is real jewelry in the crown of Rockstar.
Red Death Redemption 2

Speaking of RDR2…it's not part of the GTA series, but it's the best game on Rockstar and I love talking about it. To conform to the tradition of Rockstar quality-based delays, we added some appendixes by mentioning Red Dead Redemption 2, which was delayed twice, First spring 2017 For quality assurance purposes. this The second delay In February 2018, RDR2 was pushed to late October. Rockstar's statement explains that this is again a quality issue.
“We are pleased to announce that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released on October 26, 2018. We apologize for everyone who is disappointed with this delay. Although we hope to get the game out faster, it will take extra time to get Polish.
“We sincerely thank you for your patience and hope that when you start playing the game, you will agree that the wait is worth it. Meanwhile, check out These screenshots From the game. We look forward to sharing more information with you in the coming weeks. ”
Like all the others here, this delay is unblocked and provides real work of art in adventure games.
So friends, don't despair. The GTA 6 will come and when it comes, it will almost certainly be very, very good. See you in Vice City.
Jared Petty is a former IGN editor who loves writing about how wonderful and stupid video games are. You can Blue Army plays PettyCommajared.