[Kotaku] GTA 6 Production Reportedly Falling Behind, Rockstar Urges Staff To Return To Office To Avoid Delay (Aim Spring 2025, Could Slip to 2026)

[Gizmo_Duck]

GTA 6 Production Reportedly Falling Behind, Rockstar Urges Staff To Return To Office To Avoid Delay

The open-world sequel is set to launch next year, but leadership is worried it could get delayed until 2026

kotaku.com

Officially unveiled in December 2023 (after a massive 2022 leak) GTA 6 is the hotly anticipated follow-up to 2013's GTA V. Over a decade after that game's release—and its massive, still-growing sales numbers—Rockstar Games is hard at work on the sequel, which is set in Vice City, a fictional take on Miami, Florida. The game is set to come to PS5 and Xbox Series sometime in 2025, and internally that's still the plan. Kotaku was told by sources with knowledge of the situation that "early 2025" is currently the goal.
However, Kotaku has also learned that it's becoming more and more likely that the sequel might not land until late 2025. It's also possible that it could even slip into 2026 as production reportedly falls behind.

In February, following numerous leaks, Bloomberg reported that Rockstar Games was mandating its employees to return to work five days a week in the office beginning in April. The short notice and drastic change caught many by surprise and has led to frustration from staff who feel like they are being pushed out after being hired remotely, as reported by Aftermath on March 19.
While security and quality are reportedly the main reasons Rockstar is instituting the mandate to return to the office, I was told by sources—who wish to remain anonymous to avoid possible retaliation—that development on GTA 6 has started "falling behind." I'm told this has leadership at Rockstar nervous and worried about the game missing the 2025 window and slipping into 2026, and is another big reason the company is pushing for a return to the office in April.
At the moment, I'm told that Rockstar is still "aiming" for GTA 6 to arrive in Spring 2025. While an early 2025 release is the goal, sources say they aren't sure if this will happen and a Fall 2025 launch seems more plausible and feasible. Meanwhile, delaying the game to 2026 is on the table as a sort of "fallback plan" or "emergency" option if needed.

 

[ORDER_66]

I dont wanna hear no excuses!!!!

 

[KnickstapeCity]

 

[Sassy]

 

[Nostalgic]

(Didn't read the article)

Guess that goes without saying, this game will need patches.

 

[iceberg_is_on_fire]

A game that is going to be near a billion in budget to make is one of the toughest projects in history to manage. Now managing digital asset creation over Teams and whatever else they use has to be a nightmare.

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

Hurry up

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

Rockstar games always get delayed (by a year minimum) so anyone expecting it next year better make other plans

 

[Jaguar93]

 

[ORDER_66]

Rockstar games always get delayed (by a year minimum) so anyone expecting it next year better make other plans

Why should there be ANY delays these muthafukkas literally HAD YEARS!!!!

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

Why should there be ANY delays these muthafukkas literally HAD YEARS!!!!

 

[rabbid]

Let it slip man. Just consider putting out more trailers or something. Game has already been leaked to shyt. Stop trying to hoe the employees. Most of them are going to be grinding way past launch as well, they'll get that little one week break while people play Story mode and then its back to the bullshyt.

 

[Artificial Intelligence]

Just put out the single player and release the online when it’s done

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

Let it slip man. Just consider putting out more trailers or something. Game has already been leaked to shyt. Stop trying to hoe the employees. Most of them are going to be grinding way past launch as well, they'll get that little one week break while people play Story mode and then its back to the bullshyt.

Yeah, sounds like they are trying to work them to the bone to get this game out and honestly it will probably still get delayed with the extreme crunch.

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

Just put out the single player and release the online when it’s done

They are probably doing that already