Shares of videogame publisher Take-Two Interactive fell 6.26% during after-hours trading after the company postponed the launch of its highly anticipated title Grand Theft Auto VI to November 19, 2026.
The game was previously scheduled for release on May 26, 2026, which was itself a delay from the original 2025 release date.
The delay marks the latest in a series of setbacks for the next instalment of one of gaming’s most lucrative franchises.
The first trailer for GTA VI was unveiled in December 2023, when the company initially targeted a fall 2025 release.
Subsequent delays have frustrated fans but underscored Take-Two’s focus on quality and player experience.
Chief Executive Strauss Zelnick said the decision was made to ensure the game meets the company’s standards and fan expectations.
“It’s always painful when we move a date,” Zelnick said during an earnings call. “We have done so occasionally in the past, and we’ve never regretted it.”
Developers cite need for polish as reason for delay
Rockstar Games, the Take-Two unit behind Grand Theft Auto, said the extra months would allow developers to perfect the gameplay and deliver the level of polish expected from the franchise.
“These extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve,” Rockstar said in a statement.
Despite the delay, Zelnick emphasised optimism about the long-term potential of the title and the broader business.
“We remain both excited and confident they will deliver an unrivalled blockbuster entertainment experience,” he said.
“With the most robust pipeline in our company’s history, we expect to achieve record levels of net bookings in fiscal 2027.”
Strong results and improved forecast
Take-Two also raised its annual bookings forecast to between $6.40 billion and $6.50 billion, up from an earlier range of $6.05 billion to $6.15 billion.
The company now expects fiscal-year sales between $6.38 billion and $6.48 billion.
It narrowed its per-share loss forecast to between $2.25 and $1.90, compared with $2.40 to $2.05 previously.
For the quarter ended September 30, Take-Two’s net loss narrowed to $133.9 million, or 73 cents a share, from $365.5 million, or $2.08 a share, a year earlier.
Analysts polled by FactSet had projected a loss of 64 cents per share. Revenue climbed 31% to $1.77 billion, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $1.73 billion.
Zelnick credited the stronger outlook to solid momentum across the company’s portfolio, led by NBA 2K—which has sold more than 167 million units worldwide—and continued engagement with GTA Online.
The online version, he said, has delivered “terrific results,” with GTA+ subscriptions growing 20% year over year.
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