Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is currently slated for release on November 19, 2026, following several adjustments to its launch timeline. The game's development status, details stemming from previously unverified leaks now corroborated by employee firings, and ongoing legal challenges faced by Rockstar North constitute recent developments. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has expressed confidence in the current release timing, while industry journalist Jason Schreier has noted the game was not yet content complete at the time of his remarks.
Release Schedule and Development Status
Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026. This date follows a series of revisions:
- Initially, a 2025 launch window was announced.
- In May 2024, this was narrowed to Fall 2025.
- The release was delayed to May 26, 2026, in May 2025.
- A further delay to November 2026 occurred in November 2025.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has consistently stated his confidence in the current release timing, attributing Rockstar Games' development approach to a pursuit of quality. Journalist Jason Schreier indicated he would not be surprised by a Fall 2026 release, drawing parallels to the development pattern of Red Dead Redemption 2. Schreier also noted that the game was not content complete when he made his comments. The November release date positions the game within Take-Two's fiscal year 2027, which concludes in March 2027, and aligns it with the holiday sales period.
Platform Availability
The release date for GTA 6 on PC has not yet been confirmed. Schreier has suggested that PlayStation is anticipated to be the primary platform for sales, indicating that Sony might adapt its release calendar around GTA 6 due to its expected influence on PlayStation 5 sales.
Legal Challenges and Employee Firings
Rockstar North, the developer, is involved in a legal dispute in the UK. Former developers are alleging wrongful termination after attempts to form a union. Rockstar contests these allegations, stating the developers were dismissed for leaking confidential information. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the case as "deeply concerning" and called for further government investigation.
Concurrently, Rockstar Games has confirmed the accuracy of various Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks through statements regarding employee terminations. The company stated it terminated dozens of employees for "gross misconduct" related to sharing confidential information about unannounced projects, including GTA 6. Rockstar Games maintains a zero-tolerance policy concerning the sharing of such information.
- In April 2025, a staff member in Lincoln, UK, was reportedly fired for sharing confidential GTA 6 information with a third party who subsequently published it online.
- A US employee was dismissed in November 2023 for a separate information leak.
- Another employee in India was terminated in November 2025 due to an information leak.
These firings align with or suggest the accuracy of previously unverified leaks.
Details from Leaks
The information shared in various leaks, some now corroborated by employee firings, provides insight into the game's features and narrative elements.
Gameroll's Disclosures
Prior to the second GTA 6 trailer, social media user Gameroll leaked the last names of the main characters, Jason and Lucia. After these names were confirmed in Trailer 2, Gameroll reportedly provided additional details, including:
- Players will be able to control Jason individually, Lucia individually, or both characters simultaneously.
- The game is expected to feature over 700 robbable stores, including malls.
- Locations will include male strippers.
- "Warehouse robots," which appeared in 2022 leaks, were reportedly reduced by 2023.
- Vehicle trunks are said to function similarly to horse storage in Red Dead Redemption 2, allowing players to store and retrieve weapons.
- A rumored dual-wielding feature is reportedly not present.
- The 6-star Wanted level is said to be returning.
- Gunfights are expected to build upon Red Dead Redemption 2's gore and dismemberment mechanics.
- Gameroll claimed their source indicated GTA 6 would have five chapters, with the fifth chapter undergoing rework. This aligns with reports from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier regarding ongoing mission development.
Story-Related Information
In October 2023, a user on r/GamingLeaksAndRumours shared early story information, claiming:
- Lucia abandons a baby at a delicatessen prior to a bank robbery, leading to her arrest. The baby's gender is unknown, and children are not present in gameplay, with this event occurring in a flashback cutscene.
- After several years, Lucia is released on probation and is met by Jason, with whom she plans a robbery. The characters reportedly develop a romantic relationship.
- The opening mission reportedly places players in control of Jason, tracking a plane with a Russian drug dealer. Jason's drug heist goes awry, resulting in drugs falling into the ocean, which players later recover through diving.
Further Corroborations
YouTuber LegacyKillaHD corroborated elements of the intro described in the Reddit leak. He also noted that while GTA 6 would be more "grounded" than GTA 5, it would still include "over-the-top" missions, some reportedly inspired by films such as Fast & Furious. An example cited was a vault police chase scene from Fast 5 appearing in the second trailer.
The accuracy of all leaked details is subject to change as development progresses.