Take-Two’s CEO Reacts to Another GTA 6 Delay: “Please Tell Me You’re Joking”

In May 2025, Rockstar announced a delay for Grand Theft Auto 6, pushing its release to May 2026. Just a few months later, the game was delayed again, this time to November 2026. For many fans, these consecutive delays were frustrating and disappointing. Take-Two’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick, seemed to take it in stride, though it might have felt like a joke to him.

On October 14, a detailed report surfaced about Rockstar Games and its development of GTA 6, the highly anticipated open-world crime simulator set to be the biggest gaming release of the decade on November 19. Initially revealed in December 2023, Rockstar had promised a 2025 launch window, which they believed was feasible, even if some developers had their doubts. As the deadline approached, Rob Nelson, head of development at Rockstar North, recognized the need for additional time.

“There’s immense pressure to deliver the highest-quality game within a tight timeframe,” Nelson shared. “You continuously assess your progress, and when you get close to the deadline, you have to determine if it’s truly achievable.”

The development team advised Jennifer Kolbe, head of publishing at Rockstar, to reach out to Zelnick for an extension, which he approved. However, in 2025, Kolbe found herself needing to call him again to request yet another delay, this time moving GTA 6 to November 2026.

“I think his initial reaction was, ‘You’re kidding,’” Kolbe recalled. “He asked me to confirm I wasn’t joking.”

“Once we discussed the reasons, he understood. We’re fortunate he’s as reasonable as he is; many would insist on shipping the game regardless. We’ve been lucky not to be in that situation, as it happens to many teams, and we’ve all experienced those games. It’s not ideal.”

Zelnick emphasized that allowing developers more time is often a “wise investment” in ensuring a game reaches its full potential. Still, it’s clear that those conversations were likely challenging for both him and Kolbe.