Grand Theft Auto fans have been eagerly awaiting news about the release date of the next installment in the popular franchise, GTA 6. According to reputable GTA leaker Tez2, the game is now aiming for a holiday 2024 launch, which is later than many fans had hoped. However, Tez2 notes that the release date has been shifted several times in the last few years, so it wouldn’t be surprising if it’s delayed even further to 2025.
Why the delay?
One of the reasons for the long wait is that GTA 6 will only launch on current hardware, including the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles. In order to achieve massive sales, parent company Take Two wants to ensure that the install base for these systems is large enough to accommodate tens of millions of units. This is a departure from GTA 5’s launch, which was on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and later rereleased on the PS4 and Xbox One.
What about content?
Tez2 speculates that content intended for the main game could be cut for DLC down the line in order to get the game out earlier. If this happens, it would be a big departure from Rockstar’s rollout of GTA 5, which saw zero new single-player content after releasing nearly 10 years ago, but continues to add content to its online multiplayer.
Sales expectations
Take Two is looking to make GTA 6 more of a GTA 5 in terms of sales, rather than a GTA 4. GTA 5 sold over 150 million units across all platforms, while GTA 4 sold around a seventh of that. The company hopes that launching on current hardware will help them achieve this goal.
What’s next?
According to Insider Gaming, it’s highly likely that Rockstar will provide the official first information regarding the project before the end of the year. In the meantime, fans will have to wait patiently for any updates on GTA 6’s release date.
