The wait for Grand Theft Auto VI has stretched across more than a decade, and it now has a firm finish line. Rockstar Games has locked the launch for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S after pushing the date twice.
Quick answer: Counting from Grand Theft Auto V‘s September 2013 release, fans will have waited about 13 years and two months by the time GTA VI arrives on November 19, 2026. Measured from Rockstar’s official confirmation that the game was in development on February 4, 2022, the wait runs roughly 4 years and 9 months.
GTA 6 release date: November 19, 2026
Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026, exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. It is the eighth main entry in the series and the first since GTA V in 2013. The game is set in the fictional state of Leonida, built around the Miami-inspired Vice City, and follows the criminal duo Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.
Pre-orders opened on June 25, 2026, through Rockstar’s official GTA VI page. Physical copies, which contain a download code rather than a disc, are set to reach stores on November 12 so players can pre-load before the game unlocks on its release date.
How long the wait has been, measured from key milestones
There is no single “correct” start date for the wait, because development overlapped with Red Dead Redemption 2. The numbers below show how long each commonly used starting point stretches out to the November 19, 2026 launch.
| Starting point | When it happened | Wait until launch |
|---|---|---|
| GTA V released | September 2013 | About 13 years, 2 months |
| Preliminary work began | 2014 | About 12 years |
| Early development started (after RDR2) | Late 2018 | About 8 years |
| Principal production began | 2020 | About 6 years |
| Rockstar confirmed it was in development | February 4, 2022 | About 4 years, 9 months |
| First trailer released | December 5, 2023 | Just under 3 years |
Note: Rockstar began preliminary work on GTA VI in 2014, but early development only ramped up in late 2018 once Red Dead Redemption 2 shipped. Principal production, code-named Project Americas, started in 2020. So the often-cited “decade-plus” figure reflects the gap since GTA V, not the time spent in full production.
The two delays that moved the date
The original target was a 2025 release, revealed when the first trailer went public. Rockstar has since pushed the launch twice, each time citing the need for additional polish.
| Stage | Announced | Target date |
|---|---|---|
| Original window | December 5, 2023 | 2025 |
| First delay | May 2, 2025 | May 26, 2026 |
| Second delay | November 6, 2025 | November 19, 2026 |
In its May 2, 2025 announcement, Rockstar apologized for the later-than-expected timing and said the extra months were needed to meet the quality players expect. The second slip to November 19, 2026, followed in early November 2025, again attributed to finishing polish.
How GTA 6’s wait compares to industry records
Despite the long gap, GTA VI does not approach the record for the longest development period. That distinction belongs to Duke Nukem Forever, which spanned 14 years and 43 days between its April 28, 1997 announcement and its June 10, 2011 release.
By contrast, the stretch from Rockstar’s February 2022 confirmation to the November 2026 launch lands at roughly 4 years and 9 months, which is well under half of that record.
What is confirmed right now
As of late June 2026, the November 19, 2026 date stands, with two trailers released and pre-orders live. The first trailer arrived on December 5, 2023, and the second on May 6, 2025, revealing the protagonists’ full names. The cover art was unveiled on June 18, 2026.
Rockstar has a long history of moving its release dates, so a third delay cannot be ruled out. For now, the company has set no other date, and November 19, 2026, is the only launch target it is committing to.
