Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says GTA 6 is still set for November 19, 2026, even as the game now sits roughly 18 months behind its original internal target.

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During an appearance on David Senra’s Founders podcast, Zelnick reaffirmed GTA 6’s current release date of November 19, 2026, saying, “November 19th. I do know.” He also acknowledged that the game is running “about 18 months behind the original internal schedule,” but said the delay is “not much more than that.”

Take-Two Stays Confident Despite GTA 6 Delay

Zelnick framed the delay as consistent with Take-Two’s broader philosophy of prioritizing creative quality over rigid release schedules, pointing to the first Borderlands as a key example.

Just two months before Borderlands was scheduled to launch, the development team asked to completely overhaul the game’s art style. According to Zelnick, the change would cost $50 million and push the release back by a full year — but he approved it.

“Had we not done that, Borderlands wouldn’t have been a hit,” he said. “And that was a non-obvious decision. I can pretty much assure you no one else in the business would have done it.”

Zelnick said GTA 6 attracts global attention because the franchise is widely regarded as “the most valuable entertainment IP ever created.” He added that GTA V’s continued success gives Rockstar and Take-Two room to absorb delays, even as speculation continues over whether the November 2026 release date will hold.