Take-Two CEO Confronts GTA 6 Delay, Shareholder Concerns

Following the delay of Grand Theft Auto VI, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has taken steps to reassure shareholders about the company's outlook.

Rockstar Games confirmed a significant postponement for GTA 6, a title widely anticipated to become the biggest entertainment launch in history. The game, initially slated for a Fall 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles, is now scheduled to launch on May 26, 2026. This pushes its release from Take-Two's 2026 fiscal year into its 2027 fiscal year.

Upon the announcement, Take-Two's stock experienced an early trading dip of approximately 7.98%. In an official statement, the company reaffirmed its financial guidance, projecting sequential growth and record levels of Net Bookings (revenue) for both fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Zelnick personally addressed the decision, stating that Take-Two fully supports Rockstar's choice to delay GTA 6. He emphasized to shareholders that the company is positioned for a "multi-year" period of substantial growth.

“We fully support Rockstar Games' decision to take the additional time needed to perfect their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI. We believe it will deliver a groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience that exceeds all expectations,” Zelnick stated.

“While we are mindful of the profound global anticipation for GTA VI and take any schedule change seriously, our commitment to quality is unwavering. As we continue to launch our remarkable pipeline of titles, we anticipate delivering sustained growth and enhanced shareholder value over the coming years.”

With GTA 6 and its expected multi-billion dollar revenue impact shifting out of the 2026 fiscal calendar, attention turns to Take-Two's other upcoming releases. Beyond Rockstar, the company's portfolio includes publishers 2K Games and 2K Sports. Key near-term launches include Gearbox's Borderlands 4 in September, and Mafia: The Old Country later this year. 2K Sports is also set to release another major installment with NBA 2K26. Looking further ahead, a new BioShock title and Ken Levine's next project, Judas, are in active development.

Realistically, however, none of 2K's planned releases in the next year are expected to fully compensate for the financial scale of a GTA 6 launch, leaving Take-Two's near-term revenue projections lighter than previously forecast. While many fans were not entirely surprised by the delay, some had hoped for new artwork or screenshots to accompany the announcement.

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