Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick defended Grand Theft Auto VI's delay to May 26, 2026, calling it "a worthy investment" despite initial player disappointment.
Speaking to IGN, Zelnick said the extra development time allows Rockstar Games to achieve "its creative vision with no limitations" as the team continues "seeking perfection."
"While delays pain me - how could they not? The most important thing is to support your teams in their search for perfection," Zelnick said during the company's fourth quarter fiscal 2025 earnings call.
He expressed confidence in the new release date, noting Take-Two's strong track record of meeting announced deadlines. "Generally, when we set a specific date, that ends up being the date," he told The Game Business.
Zelnick explained they announced the precise date to "reassure people that it is coming," following the shift from the original 2025 window.
The executive has consistently set high expectations for the sequel, previously describing it as the next "benchmark" for video games and entertainment, promising "something you've never seen before."
The game's trailer, released last year, broke viewership records across multiple platforms.
Speaking to IGN, Zelnick said the extra development time allows Rockstar Games to achieve "its creative vision with no limitations" as the team continues "seeking perfection."
"While delays pain me - how could they not? The most important thing is to support your teams in their search for perfection," Zelnick said during the company's fourth quarter fiscal 2025 earnings call.
He expressed confidence in the new release date, noting Take-Two's strong track record of meeting announced deadlines. "Generally, when we set a specific date, that ends up being the date," he told The Game Business.
Zelnick explained they announced the precise date to "reassure people that it is coming," following the shift from the original 2025 window.
The executive has consistently set high expectations for the sequel, previously describing it as the next "benchmark" for video games and entertainment, promising "something you've never seen before."
The game's trailer, released last year, broke viewership records across multiple platforms.
