Have you ever heard the information? Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed again. The open-world crime simulator is not releasing in Might 2026 and can now as a substitute launch in November 2026. So why the delay? In accordance with Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, it’s as a result of Rockstar Video games is looking for “perfection” and the studio’s Metacritic observe report is proof that this technique works.
Throughout a November 6 earnings name, Zelnick, who leads Rockstar mother or father Firm Take-Two, was requested about how the GTA 6 delay was affecting the studio and what Rockstar Video games was doing at this stage in growth. Whereas Zelnick declined to get into the “inner workings” of the developer, he did discuss in regards to the firm’s tradition and give attention to making critically acclaimed video games.
“I think the culture of Rockstar [Games] is extraordinary, and we’re all pushing hard to to seek perfection,” mentioned Zelnick through the earnings call. Take-Two’s inventory sank around 7 percent after information of the delay was made public. The CEO then praised how extremely rated Rockstar-developed video games are on overview aggregator Metacritic.
“I mean, the Metacritic scores of Rockstar releases are, generally, speaking, not generally I mean, with very few exceptions, have been over 95,” defined Zelnick. “GTA V, as you know, has been the standard bearer, not just for our company, but for the industry through three console generations, and to this day, is still, I would argue, the most technologically advanced title in the marketplace, despite [being more than a] decade old, and that doesn’t happen by accident.”
I’d quibble a bit right here and level out that solely seven of Rockstar’s video game releases have hit 95 and only 4 got a higher score on Metacritic, with most touchdown within the excessive 80s and low 90s. However there’s no denying that over the past 15 years Rockstar Video games has largely produced critically acclaimed blockbusters like Purple Useless Redemption, GTA V, and Purple Useless Redemption II.
Zelnick added that Rockstar and all of Take-Two’s studios are targeted on “seeking excellence, teamwork and kindness.” Unsure how reported efforts at union busting issue into that, but it surely’s a pleasant sentiment.
After all, the issue is that with every passing yr and every delay, the expectations for Grand Theft Auto 6 develop and develop. The online game trade isn’t standing nonetheless and ready for Rockstar to make the subsequent huge open-world masterpiece. The style has continued to evolve because of video games like Elden Ring, Kingdom Come Deliverance, Far Cry, Tears of the Kingdom, Demise Stranding 2, Forza Horizon 5, and others. What individuals anticipate from an enormous, AAA open-world online game has modified quite a bit since 2013’s GTA V and 2019’s Purple Useless Redemption 2. Will Rockstar’s pursuit of “perfection” make it tougher for the studio to maintain up with the remainder of the trade, resulting in a sport that feels dated? Or will the studio innovate and assist reshape the style it virtually created? We’ll discover out in November 2026. Probably. Maybe. We’ll see.
