The Silent Era (2013-2019)
2013
GTA V Launches
Grand Theft Auto V releases on PS3 and Xbox 360. Development on the next GTA likely begins in some form at Rockstar North, though the studio is focused on GTA Online's explosive growth.
-2019
Industry Whispers Begin
Various industry insiders and anonymous sources claim GTA 6 is in early development. Locations rumored include Vice City, South America, Tokyo, and London. Nothing is confirmed. Rockstar says nothing publicly about their next game beyond RDR2.
2018
RDR2 Launches
Red Dead Redemption 2 releases, consuming Rockstar's full attention. Industry analysts note that with RDR2 complete, GTA 6 becomes the studio's primary project. Full-scale GTA 6 development ramps up.
The Leak Era (2020-2022)
2020
Jason Schreier Confirms Development
Journalist Jason Schreier at Kotaku reports that GTA 6 is in active development, set in a modern-day Vice City, and will feature the series' first female protagonist. This is the first credible confirmation of the game's existence and setting.
2022
Rockstar Confirms GTA 6
Rockstar posts on social media: "We're pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway." The first official acknowledgment after years of silence. The internet erupts.
2022
The September 2022 Mega-Leak
A hacker breaches Rockstar's internal systems and leaks approximately 90 videos of GTA 6 development footage. The leaks confirm Vice City setting, dual protagonists (Jason and Lucia), and show early gameplay. It's the biggest leak in gaming history. The hacker is later arrested in the UK. Rockstar confirms the footage is real but states development continues as planned.
The Reveal Era (2023-2025)
2023
Trailer 1 Announcement
Rockstar announces the first GTA 6 trailer will drop in early December 2023, timed with their 25th anniversary. A leaked early version forces Rockstar to release the trailer slightly ahead of schedule.
2023
Trailer 1 Drops
GTA VI Trailer 1 releases on YouTube and breaks the internet. It confirms Vice City / Leonida setting, Jason and Lucia as protagonists, modern-day timeline, and a "2025" release window. The trailer sets a YouTube record with 93 million views in 24 hours. The gaming world collectively loses its mind.
2024
Take-Two Fiscal Guidance Shift
Take-Two Interactive's quarterly earnings push GTA 6's expected revenue contribution to fiscal year 2026, suggesting the game has slipped from its original 2025 window. Fan anxiety peaks. "Delayed again" trends worldwide.
2025
Trailer 2 Drops
The second official trailer arrives, showing more gameplay footage, the expanded Leonida map, heist mechanics, and vehicle customization. More importantly, it reveals the official release window: "Fall 2026" on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The Final Countdown (2026)
2026
November 19, 2026 Confirmed
Take-Two Interactive confirms the exact release date during their quarterly earnings call: November 19, 2026. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only at launch. PC to follow in 2027. The 13-year wait finally has an end date.
2026
You Are Here
211 days until launch. Pre-orders expected to open this summer. Trailer 3 anticipated around the May Take-Two earnings call or Summer Game Fest. The hype is at critical mass.
By the Numbers
- 13 years — Gap between GTA V (September 2013) and GTA 6 (November 2026). The longest gap between mainline GTA entries.
- 93 million — YouTube views for Trailer 1 in 24 hours. A platform record.
- ~90 videos — Leaked from the September 2022 hack. The largest game leak in history.
- $1-2 billion — Estimated development budget, making it the most expensive entertainment product ever created.
- 2,000+ — Estimated number of developers across all Rockstar studios contributing to the project.