Take-Two Interactive hosted its latest quarterly earnings call last night, revealing a $3 billion net loss despite annual profits. One of the key highlights was a deeper explanation of the GTA 6 delay and its broader impact on the company and the industry. Interestingly, the call also hinted that GTA 6 has been in development for longer than many assumed. Here’s a breakdown of the details.
Take-Two CEO Explains GTA 6 Delay
Ever since GTA 6 was pushed to 2026, gamers everywhere have been desperate for answers. In the latest earnings report, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick finally shed light on the delay, stating that it was driven by the game’s “unprecedented ambition and complexity.”
He emphasized that the extra time isn’t simply for squashing bugs it’s about delivering the level of quality and polish Rockstar is known for. Interestingly, the delay isn’t due to GTA 6 being a recent project either.
According to the company, development on GTA 6 began “in earnest” back in 2020, following the success of Red Dead Redemption 2. What’s more, the game’s development is estimated to have cost over $1 billion potentially making it the most expensive video game ever produced.
While this suggests that GTA 6 was in development even before 2020, it bodes well for both the company and gamers. In its latest report, Take-Two stated that “affording Rockstar additional time for such a groundbreaking project is a worthy investment,” with the CEO even referring to it as the “most anticipated entertainment property of all time.”
Additionally, the company highlighted the game’s unprecedented hype, both before and after the release of the GTA 6 Trailer 2. Notably, the trailer amassed over 109 million views within just nine days an impressive milestone by any standard.
Take-Two remains highly confident that GTA 6 will exceed expectations. Speaking on the game’s scope and projected performance, the company further stated:
“The ambition and complexity of Grand Theft Auto VI is greater than any previous Rockstar title, and the team is poised to release another astonishing entertainment experience that will exceed players’ expectations.”
GTA 6 Delay Cost Take-Two
However, as with most things in life, there’s a cost. The delay of GTA 6 to May 26, 2026, came with significant financial repercussions. Take-Two reported a net loss of $3.73 billion for the fourth fiscal quarter, largely due to a $3.55 billion goodwill impairment charge. This loss exceeded Wall Street’s expectations and negatively impacted the company’s stock price.
Nonetheless, Take-Two has projected its fiscal 2026 revenue to fall between $5.95 billion and $6.05 billion. While this is slightly below previous analyst estimates, it aligns with expectations given the delay of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Despite the impact of the delay on both gamers and the company, the anticipation remains strong as fans continue to wait patiently for 2026. What are your thoughts on GTA 6 being in development since 2020? Share your opinions in the comments below!
