Rockstar first said a new Grand Theft Auto was in development in February 2022. On November 19, 2026, it finally comes out. In between came a major hack, the most-watched game reveal ever, two delays, a gameplay leak, and a long final campaign. This page lists every official update in order, with the posts Rockstar shared at each step.
GTA 6 at a glance
- First confirmed
- February 4, 2022
- Title revealed
- December 4, 2023 (Trailer 1)
- Delays
- Two: May 2, 2025 and November 6, 2025
- Pre-orders opened
- June 25, 2026
- Pre-load
- November 10, 2026
- Release
- November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
2022: confirmation and the hack
On February 4, 2022, at the end of a GTA Online update post, Rockstar wrote that "active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway." There was no name, setting, or date. In July, Bloomberg reported that the game would star a Latina woman as one of two leads in a fictional Miami.
Then, on September 18, 2022, more than 90 videos of early development footage appeared on a fan forum. A hacker had stolen them from Rockstar. The next day Rockstar confirmed the breach and said development would continue as planned.
A Message from Rockstar Games
“We are extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared with you all in this way. Our work on the next Grand Theft Auto game will continue as planned.”
2023: the reveal and a record-breaking trailer
Rockstar stayed quiet for over a year. On November 8, 2023, in a note for the studio's 25th anniversary, Sam Houser said the first trailer would come in early December. On December 1, Rockstar set the date: Tuesday, December 5, at 9 a.m. ET.
The trailer never made it to the 5th. On the afternoon of December 4, a low-quality copy leaked on X, and Rockstar published the real one about 15 hours early.
Our trailer has leaked so please watch the real thing on YouTube:
Trailer 1 named the game Grand Theft Auto VI, introduced Lucia and the state of Leonida, home to Vice City, and promised a 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It reached 90 million YouTube views in 24 hours, a Guinness World Record for a game reveal. Read our trailer breakdown for the details.
2024: fall 2025 window
Rockstar shared almost nothing new in 2024. On May 16, 2024, Take-Two narrowed the release to fall 2025 in its earnings report and repeated it all year. In February 2025, CEO Strauss Zelnick said he felt "really good" about that date.
2025: two delays and Trailer 2
On May 2, 2025, Rockstar delayed the game for the first time and gave it a fixed date: May 26, 2026.
Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026.
“We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”
Four days later, on May 6, 2025, Trailer 2 arrived with a rebuilt GTA VI website, character profiles, and dozens of screenshots. Rockstar said it drew more than 475 million views across platforms in 24 hours.
On November 6, 2025, Rockstar delayed the game a second and final time, to Thursday, November 19, 2026.
Hi everyone, Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026. We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve.
2026: the final year
- Jun 18, 2026RevealCover art revealedRockstar shows the box art and says pre-orders open in one week.
- Jun 24, 2026EditionsPrice confirmedStandard Edition $79.99, Ultimate Edition $99.99. Take-Two calls GTA VI a single-player experience at launch.
- Boxed copies contain a download code rather than a disc.
- Buying before November 20 adds the Vintage Vice City Pack.
- Jun 25, 2026EditionsPre-orders openPre-orders go live on PlayStation and Xbox. See our editions guide.
- Aug 7, 2026Business"Unprecedented" pre-ordersTake-Two's Strauss Zelnick calls pre-orders "astronomical" without sharing numbers.
- Aug 18-26, 2026LeakGameplay leakClips from a playable build spread online. Take-Two goes to court to identify the leaker, and Rockstar calls the leaks "heartbreaking for our team".
- Aug 27, 2026TrailerAn Extended LookAround 27 minutes of gameplay premieres on Netflix, then on YouTube six hours later.
- Sep 17, 2026MusicGTA VI: The Album34 original tracks announced, out on November 19. See our soundtrack guide.
- Sep 29, 2026PressGame Informer cover storyRockstar says Leonida is roughly twice the size of GTA V's map.
- Oct 15, 2026TrailerLaunch TrailerA surprise 90-second trailer set to Justice's "Flower in a Hurricane".
- Nov 5, 2026MediaThe Launch GalleryA new set of official screenshots on the GTA VI site.
- Nov 10, 2026LaunchPre-load beginsAnyone who pre-ordered can download the game ahead of release.
- Nov 19, 2026LaunchLaunch dayGrand Theft Auto VI releases on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The August leak and An Extended Look
In mid-August, an anonymous account began posting clips from a playable build. On August 26, Rockstar posted a letter to fans and confirmed that its long-awaited gameplay showcase would arrive the next day.
Music, magazines, and the Launch Trailer
Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album Coming November 19 Featuring 34 original tracks that capture the electric energy of Vice City and Leonida, from a genre-defying artist roster. Listen to the first six singles today, and pre-order on vinyl and CD.
We've partnered with @gameinformer to make today's Grand Theft Auto VI cover story free in the Game Informer app. Read now, and subscribe to the print edition today to receive it as your first issue.
Watch the Grand Theft Auto VI Launch Trailer, featuring the debut of “Flower in a Hurricane” from original score composers Justice feat. Tame Impala, SZA, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Grand Theft Auto VI arrives November 19.
Check out Edge’s Grand Theft Auto VI cover story from Issue 430, online and in-stores now.
November 2026: the countdown
The final weeks moved fast. Rockstar dated pre-load, released a launch gallery, announced two Miami launch events, and opened pre-load on schedule.
Grand Theft Auto VI pre-load begins on November 10. There’s still time to pre-order and ensure you're able to experience Grand Theft Auto VI when it launches on November 19.
Grand Theft Auto VI is now officially only two weeks away. Today, enjoy a stunning look at Vice City and beyond with a collection of new screenshots on the official site. See you in Leonida on November 19.
Grand Theft Auto VI: The Festival, a special live event on November 21 at Mana Wynwood in Miami to celebrate the launch of GTAVI, featuring a star-studded lineup of artists from the game and the official soundtrack.
A Night in Vice City. On the eve of the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, tune in to the NBA on ESPN Wednesday, November 18 at 7PM Eastern to see the HEAT trade Miami for Vice City when they host the Milwaukee Bucks.
Grand Theft Auto VI pre-loading is now available for everyone who has pre-ordered. If you still have yet to pre-order, now’s the time to make sure you're prepared for November 19.
Grand Theft Auto VI is now only one week away! Thank you to everyone in the community for your incredible support. There’s still time to pre-order and pre-load so you’re ready on launch day. Code-in-box versions are also available now for pick-up at retailers worldwide.
What comes next
Rockstar has not dated an online mode or a PC version. Both have followed Rockstar's console launches in the past, so watch the Rockstar Newswire after release. We will add every new update to this page.
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- First published with every update through the one-week countdown.
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