Data: Timeline
GTA 6 Timeline: Every Announcement, Trailer and Delay
Image: Rockstar Games
GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026, 1,749 days after Rockstar first said the next Grand Theft Auto was "well underway" and 1,081 days after Trailer 1. Along the way the release date moved twice, from fall 2025 to May 26, 2026 and then to November 19, 2026.
Below are 41 dated milestones, from Rockstar's February 4, 2022 post to launch week, each linked to its source: Rockstar's Newswire, Take-Two's investor releases, store and support pages, and the outlets that reported the rest.
- 1,749days from Rockstar's first word to launch
- 2delays, adding 177 days at the second
- 4release dates or windows stated
- 10Take-Two quarterly reports in a row naming one
How the release date moved
Sources: Take-Two and Rockstar statements in the timeline below. Checked October 9, 2026.
What the timeline says about Rockstar
Our take: GTA 6's delays were normal for Rockstar in kind, and unusual in one way. All three of its last big games missed the first window they were given: GTA V by about four months, in Rockstar's own words, and Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 6 by about a year each. What sets GTA 6 apart is that it is the only one of the three to miss an exact day. GTA V's September 17 and Red Dead Redemption 2's October 26 both held once named; GTA 6's May 26, 2026 did not. That's why we read November 19 as very likely rather than certain, even with pre-orders, a preload day and partners all lined up. For players, the useful lesson is simple: a window ("fall 2025") from Rockstar is a hope, and a named day is a plan, but not yet a guarantee.
How Rockstar's last three release promises moved
| Game | First promise | Final date | Missed by | Did a named day slip? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTA V | Spring 2013 | September 17, 2013 | About four months | No |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Fall 2017 | October 26, 2018 | About a year | No |
| GTA 6 | 2025, then fall 2025 | November 19, 2026 | About a year | Yes: May 26, 2026 |
Our comparison from Rockstar's Newswire posts, The Guardian and The Week; GTA 6's own promises are charted above.
GTA 6 also took longest to get from a named day to launch: Rockstar set November 19 a little over a year ahead, against about seven and a half months for GTA V's September 17 and about nine months for Red Dead Redemption 2's October 26. A longer runway gave stores, partners and fans more time to plan, and it's one more reason a further slip now would be far more disruptive than either earlier one.
Sources for this section (6)
- Grand Theft Auto V Is Coming 9.17.2013 (Rockstar Newswire: about four months later than first planned) (Jan 31, 2013)
- Grand Theft Auto V release date delayed until autumn (The Guardian) (Jan 31, 2013)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 delayed until spring 2018 (The Week) (May 23, 2017)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Is Coming October 26th 2018 (Rockstar Newswire) (Feb 1, 2018)
- Grand Theft Auto VI is now coming May 26, 2026 (Rockstar Newswire) (May 2, 2025)
- Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to launch November 19, 2026 (Rockstar Newswire) (Nov 6, 2025)
Every milestone, 2022 to launch
2022
Rockstar says the next Grand Theft Auto is well underway
In a Newswire community update, Rockstar writes that active development of the next entry in the series is well underway. It is the earliest public statement from Rockstar about the game that we found.
"active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway"
Source: Grand Theft Auto Community Update (Rockstar Newswire)
Rockstar confirms a network intrusion and stolen early footage
Rockstar confirms that an unauthorized third party broke into its network and downloaded confidential information, including early development footage of the next Grand Theft Auto. We do not use or describe the stolen material.
Source: Rockstar Games confirms GTA 6 footage leak (TechCrunch), Massive 'Grand Theft Auto 6' leak confirmed by Rockstar Games (New York Post)
2023
Rockstar promises the first trailer in early December
In a note marking its 25th anniversary, Rockstar says the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto arrives in early December 2023.
"in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto"
Trailer 1: Grand Theft Auto VI, coming 2025
Rockstar releases Trailer 1 about 15 hours early after it leaks online. Take-Two's release names the game Grand Theft Auto VI and sets it for 2025 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, in the state of Leonida and Vice City.
Source: Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto VI, Coming 2025 (Take-Two), Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer Is Released to Eager Fans (The New York Times)
Trailer 1 breaks YouTube's 24-hour record
Guinness World Records counts 90,421,491 YouTube views in the first 24 hours, the most for a video game reveal. YouTube puts it at over 93 million, a record for a non-music video.
Source: Most viewed videogame reveal on YouTube in 24 hours (Guinness World Records), Grand Theft Auto VI trailer launch sets new 24-hour record on YouTube (YouTube Blog)
2024
Take-Two narrows the window to fall 2025
In its fiscal 2024 results, Take-Two says its outlook narrows Rockstar's window for GTA VI from calendar 2025 to fall 2025.
"a narrowing of Rockstar Games' previously established window of Calendar 2025 to Fall of Calendar 2025"
Take-Two keeps fall 2025
Take-Two's first-quarter results list GTA VI for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in fall of calendar 2025.
Source: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal First Quarter 2025 (Take-Two)
Take-Two: GTA VI in the fall
Take-Two's second-quarter results again place GTA VI in fall of calendar 2025, among the titles coming in its fiscal 2026.
Source: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 (Take-Two)
2025
Take-Two repeats fall 2025, three months before the first delay
Take-Two's third-quarter results call 2025 one of its strongest years ever, with GTA VI planned for the fall.
Source: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Third Quarter 2025 (Take-Two)
First delay: May 26, 2026
Rockstar moves the game from fall 2025 to May 26, 2026 and apologizes that it is later than expected. Take-Two puts the release in its fiscal year 2027.
"Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026"
Source: Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Coming May 26, 2026 (Rockstar Newswire), Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reiterates Expectations (Take-Two: release date of May 26, 2026)
Trailer 2 and the six regions of Leonida
Trailer 2 arrives with screenshots and a new site that names Vice City, the Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia and Mount Kalaga National Park. Take-Two says all the footage was captured on PlayStation 5.
Source: Rockstar Games Releases Trailer 2 for Grand Theft Auto VI (Take-Two), Grand Theft Auto VI: Watch Trailer 2 Now (Rockstar Newswire)
Rockstar: 475 million views in a day
Rockstar tells The Hollywood Reporter that Trailer 2 passed 475 million views across platforms in its first 24 hours, which it calls the biggest video launch of all time.
Source: 'Grand Theft Auto 6' Trailer Views Near Half a Billion (The Hollywood Reporter), GTA 6 Trailer 2 the Biggest Video Launch of All Time, Rockstar Says (IGN)
Take-Two lists May 26, 2026
Take-Two's fiscal 2025 results list GTA VI for May 26, 2026, in fiscal 2027, and expect record net bookings with it.
Take-Two still lists May 26, 2026
Take-Two's first-quarter results keep GTA VI at May 26, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Source: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal First Quarter 2026 (Take-Two)
Second delay: November 19, 2026
Rockstar moves the game to Thursday, November 19, 2026 and apologizes for the extra wait. Take-Two announces it the same day in its second-quarter results.
"Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026"
Source: Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Set to Launch November 19, 2026 (Rockstar Newswire), Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 (Take-Two)
2026
Take-Two: November 19 holds
Take-Two's third-quarter results point to the November 19 launch and project record net bookings for fiscal 2027.
Source: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Third Quarter 2026 (Take-Two)
Take-Two expects records driven by GTA VI
Take-Two's fiscal 2026 results say fiscal 2027 should set new records, driven by the November 19 launch.
Pre-orders set for June 25
Rockstar announces that pre-orders begin on June 25 on digital stores and at select retailers.
Source: Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Orders Begin on June 25 (Rockstar Newswire)
$79.99 Standard, $99.99 Ultimate, single player
Rockstar details the editions: $79.99 for the Standard Edition, the Ultimate Edition at $99.99, and the Vintage Vice City Pack for orders before November 20. Rockstar calls the game a single-player experience.
Source: Rockstar Games Announces Pre-Orders for Grand Theft Auto VI (Take-Two), Pre-Order Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25 (Rockstar Newswire), Take-Two prices 'Grand Theft Auto VI' at $79.99, sticks to November 19 launch (Reuters)
Pre-orders open at local midnight
Pre-orders go live at midnight local time on digital stores and at select retailers.
Source: Rockstar Games Announces Pre-Orders for Grand Theft Auto VI (Take-Two)
An Extended Look announced for Netflix
Rockstar announces Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, premiering on Netflix on August 27 at 3 p.m. ET and then on Rockstar's own channels.
Source: Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look (Rockstar Newswire)
Take-Two reports unprecedented pre-orders
Take-Two's first-quarter results reiterate its fiscal 2027 outlook around the November 19 launch; Reuters reports Take-Two calling GTA VI pre-orders unprecedented.
Source: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal First Quarter 2027 (Take-Two), Take-Two touts 'unprecedented GTA VI pre-orders' (Reuters)
Preload date set; no disc in the box
Rockstar Support sets the preload for local midnight on November 12 and says the boxed copy holds a download code, with no disc.
Source: Grand Theft Auto VI Platforms, Editions, and Versions (Rockstar Support)
An Extended Look premieres; previews go live
The Extended Look premieres on Netflix and goes up on YouTube and Rockstar's site that evening. Previews from journalists who saw the game land the same day; The New York Times reports that Rockstar North's Rob Nelson took about 80 hours to finish the story.
Source: Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, Now Playing (Rockstar Newswire), The Grand Ambitions of Grand Theft Auto VI (The New York Times), 69 New GTA 6 Gameplay Details We Saw at Rockstar HQ (IGN)
GTA VI DualSense controllers
PlayStation shows limited-edition GTA VI DualSense controllers, on sale from $84.99 on November 19.
Source: First look at the GTA VI limited-edition DualSense wireless controllers (PlayStation Blog)
Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album
Rockstar announces a 34-track album for November 19, on streaming, vinyl and CD, and releases six singles.
Source: Announcing Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album, Coming November 19 (Rockstar Newswire)
The Goodtime State collector's box
Rockstar opens pre-orders for The Goodtime State, a Vice City collection that arrives on November 19; the game is sold separately.
Source: Pre-Order The Goodtime State, Vice City Collection Now While Supplies Last (Rockstar Newswire)
Game Informer cover story: six regions, twice GTA V's map
Game Informer's cover story reports that Leonida is about twice the size of GTA V's map, split into six regions, with more than 170 animal species.
Source: Exclusive: Grand Theft Auto VI Includes Over 170 Animal Species (Game Informer), GTA 6 map twice as large as GTA 5 (VGC)
The Miami Heat announce A Night in Vice City
The Heat's November 18 game against the Milwaukee Bucks will use a Vice City court and uniforms, the night before launch.
Source: Miami Heat announce 'A Night in Vice City' theme ahead of GTA VI release (ESPN)
Rockstar names the first six radio stations
Rockstar reveals Cocoteo FM, Back Country Radio, AfroBank FM, The Chamber 106.6, Flash FM and Dirty South Classics, with short previews of each on its GTA VI music page, and opens a GTA VI merchandise collection on the Rockstar Store.
Source: The Music of Grand Theft Auto VI: In-Game Radio Stations (Rockstar Newswire), The Music of Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games), Grand Theft Auto VI Collection Now at the Rockstar Store (Rockstar Newswire)
Two more album singles: Cardi B and Fuerza Regida
Cardi B's "Don't Chart" and Fuerza Regida's "Suzuki" come out and join Rockstar's GTA VI music page, making eight released singles from the 34-track Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album.
Source: The Music of Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games), 'Grand Theft Auto 6' reveals two new artists for 'The Album' (NME)
Take-Two's last earnings report before launch
Take-Two's last earnings report before launch. Analysts list Nov 5 as tentative; Take-Two has not set a date.
Preload opens at local midnight
Preload opens at local midnight for digital pre-orders.
Source: Rockstar Games Support: Grand Theft Auto VI Platforms, Editions, and Versions
Boxed copies: a code, no disc
Boxed copies on sale: a download code, no disc. Codes redeemed early preload right away.
Source: Rockstar Games Support: Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Order Purchase Support FAQ
A Night in Vice City: Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks, with a Vice City court and uniforms
A Night in Vice City: Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks, with a Vice City court and uniforms.
Launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Source: Rockstar Newswire: Pre-Order Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25
Unlock hour
Unlock hour: store listings point to local midnight, but Rockstar has not said.
Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album (34 tracks) on streaming, vinyl and CD
Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album (34 tracks) on streaming, vinyl and CD.
Source: Rockstar Newswire: Announcing Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album, Coming November 19
Limited-edition GTA VI DualSense controllers on sale from $84
Limited-edition GTA VI DualSense controllers on sale from $84.99.
Source: PlayStation Blog: First look at the GTA VI limited-edition DualSense controllers
The Goodtime State collector's box arrives (the game is sold separately)
The Goodtime State collector's box arrives (the game is sold separately).
Source: Rockstar Newswire: Pre-Order The Goodtime State, Vice City Collection
Pre-order bonus ends 11:59 PM
Last day for the pre-order bonus (stores close it at 11:59 PM). Digital orders also get a GTA+ month.
Source: Rockstar Newswire: Pre-Order Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25
Method
An event is in the timeline when Rockstar, Take-Two, PlayStation, Xbox or the organiser of an event announced it (marked Confirmed), or when two independent outlets reported it (Reported). Launch-week rows come from our launch calendar with its own key: Confirmed, Expected (two outlets or a yearly pattern) and Unconfirmed. Take-Two's quarterly results are primary sources: we list each release that stated a window or date for GTA VI. We leave out leaked footage and anything that only traces back to it; the September 2022 entry records Rockstar's own statement about the intrusion and nothing else.
On launch day we add the unlock, the first sales figures Take-Two or Rockstar publish, and anything announced in the final week, and we keep the CSV, JSON and embed in step with this page.
Use this data
Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: cite gta6cheatsheet.com and link the page. Journalists: the 120-word press summary has the numbers in one paragraph.
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How to cite
The complete GTA 6 timeline, GTA 6 Cheat Sheet, https://gta6cheatsheet.com/gta-6/timeline/ (last checked October 9, 2026)
License: CC BY 4.0. Found a mistake? Tell us and we log the fix on the about page.
Questions people ask
When was GTA 6 announced?
Rockstar first said the next Grand Theft Auto was in development on February 4, 2022. It revealed the name Grand Theft Auto VI with Trailer 1 on December 4, 2023, released about 15 hours early after a leak.
How many times was GTA 6 delayed?
Twice. On May 2, 2025 Rockstar moved it from fall 2025 to May 26, 2026, and on November 6, 2025 to November 19, 2026. Take-Two had narrowed the original "2025" window to fall 2025 in May 2024.
How long has GTA 6 been in development?
Rockstar has not given a start date. Its first public word, on February 4, 2022, already called development "well underway". From that post to launch is 1,749 days.
When did GTA 6 Trailer 1 and Trailer 2 come out?
Trailer 1 on December 4, 2023 and Trailer 2 on May 6, 2025. The 27-minute Extended Look followed on Netflix on August 27, 2026.
What happens before launch?
Take-Two's last earnings report before launch is expected around November 5; preload opens at local midnight on November 12; launch is November 19, 2026. The full run-up is at the end of this timeline.
Sources
- Grand Theft Auto Community Update (Rockstar Newswire) (Feb 4, 2022)
- Rockstar Games confirms GTA 6 footage leak (TechCrunch) (Sep 19, 2022)
- Massive 'Grand Theft Auto 6' leak confirmed by Rockstar Games (New York Post) (Sep 19, 2022)
- A Message from Rockstar Games (Rockstar Newswire) (Nov 8, 2023)
- Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto VI, Coming 2025 (Take-Two) (Dec 4, 2023)
- Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer Is Released to Eager Fans (The New York Times) (Dec 4, 2023)
- Most viewed videogame reveal on YouTube in 24 hours (Guinness World Records) (Dec 5, 2023)
- Grand Theft Auto VI trailer launch sets new 24-hour record on YouTube (YouTube Blog) (Dec 5, 2023)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 (Take-Two) (May 16, 2024)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal First Quarter 2025 (Take-Two) (Aug 8, 2024)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 (Take-Two) (Nov 6, 2024)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Third Quarter 2025 (Take-Two) (Feb 6, 2025)
- Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Coming May 26, 2026 (Rockstar Newswire) (May 2, 2025)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reiterates Expectations (Take-Two: release date of May 26, 2026) (May 2, 2025)
- Rockstar Games Releases Trailer 2 for Grand Theft Auto VI (Take-Two) (May 6, 2025)
- Grand Theft Auto VI: Watch Trailer 2 Now (Rockstar Newswire) (May 6, 2025)
- 'Grand Theft Auto 6' Trailer Views Near Half a Billion (The Hollywood Reporter) (May 7, 2025)
- GTA 6 Trailer 2 the Biggest Video Launch of All Time, Rockstar Says (IGN) (May 8, 2025)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2025 (Take-Two) (May 15, 2025)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal First Quarter 2026 (Take-Two) (Aug 7, 2025)
- Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Set to Launch November 19, 2026 (Rockstar Newswire) (Nov 6, 2025)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 (Take-Two) (Nov 6, 2025)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Third Quarter 2026 (Take-Two) (Feb 3, 2026)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2026 (Take-Two) (May 21, 2026)
- Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Orders Begin on June 25 (Rockstar Newswire) (Jun 18, 2026)
- Rockstar Games Announces Pre-Orders for Grand Theft Auto VI (Take-Two) (Jun 24, 2026)
- Pre-Order Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25 (Rockstar Newswire) (Jun 24, 2026)
- Take-Two prices 'Grand Theft Auto VI' at $79.99, sticks to November 19 launch (Reuters) (Jun 24, 2026)
- Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look (Rockstar Newswire) (Aug 6, 2026)
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal First Quarter 2027 (Take-Two) (Aug 7, 2026)
- Take-Two touts 'unprecedented GTA VI pre-orders' (Reuters) (Aug 7, 2026)
- Grand Theft Auto VI Platforms, Editions, and Versions (Rockstar Support) (Aug 18, 2026)
- Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, Now Playing (Rockstar Newswire) (Aug 27, 2026)
- The Grand Ambitions of Grand Theft Auto VI (The New York Times) (Aug 27, 2026)
- 69 New GTA 6 Gameplay Details We Saw at Rockstar HQ (IGN) (Aug 27, 2026)
- First look at the GTA VI limited-edition DualSense wireless controllers (PlayStation Blog) (Sep 3, 2026)
- Announcing Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album, Coming November 19 (Rockstar Newswire) (Sep 17, 2026)
- Pre-Order The Goodtime State, Vice City Collection Now While Supplies Last (Rockstar Newswire) (Sep 24, 2026)
- Exclusive: Grand Theft Auto VI Includes Over 170 Animal Species (Game Informer) (Sep 29, 2026)
- GTA 6 map twice as large as GTA 5 (VGC) (Sep 29, 2026)
- Miami Heat announce 'A Night in Vice City' theme ahead of GTA VI release (ESPN) (Oct 2, 2026)
- The Music of Grand Theft Auto VI: In-Game Radio Stations (Rockstar Newswire) (Oct 8, 2026)
- The Music of Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games) (Oct 8, 2026)
- Grand Theft Auto VI Collection Now at the Rockstar Store (Rockstar Newswire) (Oct 8, 2026)
- 'Grand Theft Auto 6' reveals two new artists for 'The Album' (NME) (Oct 9, 2026)
- Barchart: Take-Two ahead of GTA 6's November launch (Sep 24, 2026)
- Rockstar Games Support: Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Order Purchase Support FAQ (Jun 24, 2026)
- PlayStation Store (US): Grand Theft Auto VI listing (Oct 5, 2026)
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