Why did GTA 6 take so long?
Short answer: GTA 6 comes out on 19 November 2026, about 13 years after GTA 5 (September 2013). Rockstar first finished Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018), then built a much bigger game with a much bigger team, changed how it works to cut crunch, and delayed the release twice.
By Jake Morrison · Sources checked by GTA6Geek Editorial · Published · Last updated · 5 min read
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GTA 5 to GTA 6: the key dates
- Sept 2013: GTA 5 launches. GTA Online keeps the team busy for years.
- Oct 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 launches. Most of Rockstar worked on it until then.
- Feb 2022: Rockstar confirms the next GTA is in active development. Official
- July 2022: Bloomberg reports the code name Project Americas and changes to Rockstar’s work culture. Reported
- Sept 2022: Early test footage leaks online.
- Dec 2023: Trailer 1 is released, with a 2025 window.
- May 2025: Delayed to 26 May 2026. Official
- Nov 2025: Delayed again to 19 November 2026. Official
For every delay statement in detail, see is GTA 6 delayed again?
Is this real? Dates are official
Who said it: Rockstar for the dates and delays; Bloomberg for the code name and team size. Our view: Rockstar has never given an official start date. Checked: 2 Nov 2026.
The main reasons it took so long
- Red Dead Redemption 2 came first. Rockstar put most of its studios on RDR2 until 2018, so full GTA 6 production started after that.
- GTA Online kept earning. GTA 5 and GTA Online kept selling for over a decade, so there was no rush to replace them.
- A much bigger game. Reports point to more interiors, over 600,000 animations and a living state of Leonida. Bloomberg says the team grew to about 4,700 people.
- Less crunch. Bloomberg reported in 2022 that Rockstar changed its culture after crunch criticism around RDR2, which means slower but steadier work.
- Polish. Rockstar said both delays were to give the game the polish players expect.
Budget, team size and the AI question are covered in GTA 6 development facts.
How long between GTA 5 and GTA 6?
From 17 September 2013 to 19 November 2026 is about 13 years and 2 months, the longest gap between two main GTA games. Rockstar has never given an official start date, so people often say GTA 6 was in full development for about eight years, counting from the end of RDR2 in 2018. See every GTA game in order. Wondering about the next one? Read GTA 7: is it coming?
Sources
Last checked: 2 Nov 2026. Labels: Official = Rockstar or platform holder, Reported = previews or press, Unconfirmed = not stated by Rockstar.
What to read next
Frequently asked questions
Why has GTA 6 taken 13 years?
Rockstar finished Red Dead Redemption 2 first, GTA Online kept earning, the new game is much bigger with a much bigger team, Rockstar changed its work culture to reduce crunch, and the release was delayed twice for polish.
When did GTA 6 development start?
Rockstar has not given an official start date. It confirmed active development in February 2022, and most reports say full production began after Red Dead Redemption 2 launched in 2018.
What was GTA 6’s code name?
Bloomberg reported in 2022 that the project was code-named Project Americas. Rockstar has not confirmed the name.
How long between GTA 5 and GTA 6?
About 13 years and 2 months: GTA 5 came out on 17 September 2013 and GTA 6 comes out on 19 November 2026.
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