GTA VI news moves fast, and old dates get mixed up. This timeline lists official announcements only, with dates checked against several outlets on October 9, 2026. Leaks and rumors are not included.
Key takeaways
- Rockstar first confirmed development on February 4, 2022.
- Trailer 1 came on December 5, 2023 and Trailer 2 on May 6, 2025.
- The game was delayed twice, to May 26, 2026 and then to November 19, 2026.
- Pre-orders opened on June 25, 2026.
The timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 4, 2022 | Rockstar confirms active development of the next GTA. |
| November 8, 2023 | Rockstar says Trailer 1 will arrive in early December. |
| December 1, 2023 | Rockstar sets the Trailer 1 premiere for December 5 at 9am ET. |
| December 5, 2023 | Trailer 1 releases, with a 2025 window for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. |
| May 2, 2025 | Delay to May 26, 2026. |
| May 6, 2025 | Trailer 2 releases. |
| November 6, 2025 | Second delay to November 19, 2026, announced by Rockstar and Take-Two. |
| June 18, 2026 | Cover art, editions and pre-order details revealed; pre-orders announced for June 25. |
| June 25, 2026 | Pre-orders open. |
| August 6, 2026 | Extended Look announced for August 27. |
| August 27, 2026 | Extended Look premieres on Netflix, then on YouTube hours later. |
| September 17, 2026 | GTA VI: The Album is announced with 34 original songs. |
| November 12, 2026 | Planned start of downloads for pre-orders. |
| November 19, 2026 | Scheduled launch. |
Notes on the dates
Dates are shown in the usual US reporting style, and local times differ. Rockstar said in its November 2025 statement that the extra time was for polish. Take-Two also confirmed the date in its results, and a May 2026 report said the date stood.
The Netflix premiere was at 3pm ET and the YouTube release at 9pm ET, per VGC.
Rating news
On the ratings side, a Mature listing from the ESRB was reported in early October 2026. We cover that in the age rating guide.
What is still to come
- More trailers or details are not announced.
- PC release is not announced.
Next steps
Use the launch day checklist to prepare, and watch the news page for updates.
