Rockstar's Track Record of Delays Raises Concerns About GTA 6's Scheduled Release in 2025

Rockstar has recently unveiled and started discussing its next major game, Grand Theft Auto VI, and has confirmed a 2025 release date. Given the track record of delays for Rockstar's previous big titles, such as Grand Theft Auto IV, Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto V, and Red Dead Redemption II, fans may want to prepare themselves for a potential delay. While this doesn't guarantee a delay for Grand Theft Auto VI, it does show that Take-Two and Rockstar are open to pushing back release dates in order to enhance game quality.

Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar, has projected that GTA VI will be a major contributor to its earnings. The company has provided guidance that reflects this expectation, as they aim to ensure the game is released on time to satisfy investors and achieve their financial goals. However, Take-Two has a history of delaying game releases, including the GTA series, even if it results in challenging financial outcomes in the short term.

Prior to its release, here is a brief summary of the significant Rockstar titles and their delayed launches. Additionally, GTA VI is set to be released in 2025 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with no mention of a PC release, potentially resulting in a longer wait for PC players. It's important to note that this list does not cover every recent Rockstar game, only the major ones. While some of Rockstar's games have been released on schedule, others have experienced delays.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV, initially scheduled for release in October 2007, was postponed to April 2008. Take-Two cited "certain elements of development proved to be more time-intensive than expected" as the reason for the delay. The company expressed disappointment at having to revise financial guidance by over $200 million due to the setback.

Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars And GTA 4 DLC

Rockstar's GTA game for Nintendo DS, GTA: Chinatown Wars, was originally slated for release before the end of January 2009, but the launch was pushed to April 2009. Additionally, Rockstar confirmed that the release of GTA IV's first DLC pack, The Lost and Damned, was also delayed.

Red Dead Redemption

The release of Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar's open-world western, was originally scheduled for the end of April 2010, but it was later pushed by Take-Two to May of that year. The delay was attributed to giving the game a better release window and to allow for more time for marketing.

Grand Theft Auto V

Similarly, Rockstar had initially planned to launch Grand Theft Auto V in Spring 2013, but the release was postponed to September of that year. The company cited the need for a four-month delay to provide the development team with more time to polish and refine the game. The decision proved successful, as GTA V went on to sell 190 million copies, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling games of all time.

Red Dead Redemption II

Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption II was initially scheduled to be one of the biggest releases of 2017, but both Rockstar and Take-Two decided to delay the game first to Spring 2018, and then again to Fall 2018. Take-Two explained that the delays were necessary to give Rockstar more time to create the "most extraordinary" game possible.

Grand Theft Auto V Next-Gen

Grand Theft Auto V's PS5 and Xbox Series X|S editions were originally set to launch in November 2021, but Rockstar pushed the release date to March 2022. The company stated that the game needed "a few additional months for polishing and fine-tuning."

Editor's P/S

As a passionate Rockstar fan, I have mixed feelings about the potential delay of GTA 6's scheduled release in 2025. On the one hand, I understand that Rockstar has a history of delaying their games, and I would rather wait longer for a polished and complete game than receive a rushed and buggy product. On the other hand, I am eagerly anticipating the release of GTA 6 and am disappointed by the prospect of having to wait even longer to play it.

Overall, I believe that Rockstar's track record of delays is a cause for concern, but I am hopeful that the company will be able to release GTA 6 on time and in a high-quality state. I am confident that Rockstar is committed to creating the best possible game, and I am willing to wait as long as necessary for them to deliver on that promise. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy playing Rockstar's previous games and eagerly await the release of GTA 6.