GTA 6 Delay No Surprise: Rockstar's History of Postponements

If you're a fan of Grand Theft Auto, you already know the drill: delays are often a sign of greatness. While not every extended timeline results in perfection, more often than not, taking extra time ensures the final product shines. Whether it's perfecting gameplay mechanics or having the courage to cut loose concepts that sounded great on paper but fell flat in execution, attention to detail in game development is key. Haven’t we all wished publishers would just push back a release date to ensure the game is polished to perfection? Keep that thought tucked away—it’ll come in handy.

GTA 6 is delayed, and that’s a good thing. The extra time will likely make it even better.

I’ve been diving into GTA games since the early days of four-player LAN parties on PC. From the obscure (London 1969) to the iconic (GTA V), and even the underrated (Chinatown Wars for DS), I’ve spent decades exploring these chaotic yet captivating worlds. Thankfully, these games are rarely on time... and unsurprisingly, they’re almost always fantastic. Here’s a look at every delay in GTA history (and some Red Dead Redemption too).

Grand Theft Auto III

Rockstar’s New York offices were close to the World Trade Center, and after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Take-Two postponed GTA III. Marketing VP Terry Donovan explained the decision shortly afterward:

"Our decision is based on two factors: first, it’s been challenging to work in downtown Manhattan due to intermittent communication issues; second, we felt a thorough review of all our titles and marketing materials was essential. Witnessing such a horrific event made us reconsider certain elements. Although we’ve found only minor contextual changes necessary, we apologize for the delay and assure you the game will remain exceptional."

Even with these adjustments, the delay was a smart move for both Rockstar and its fans. Shooting police cars and ambulances in Liberty City immediately following such a tragedy would have been insensitive.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

The shortest delays belong to Vice City and San Andreas. Before digital distribution became common, publishers estimated physical disc production needs. For Vice City, Rockstar pushed the release back by seven days to meet the overwhelming initial demand.

San Andreas for PS2 also arrived a week later than planned, giving developers extra time to refine their two-year labor of love.

Every Celebrity in GTA: San Andreas

View 37 ImagesGrand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Let’s be honest: GTA’s portable entries are impressive. GTA’s forays into mobile gaming usually stick to schedule, but Vice City Stories for PSP was delayed by two weeks in North America and even longer in parts of Europe.

The best GTA game (yes, I said it) missed its target release by two months. When it finally launched, Chinatown Wars received critical acclaim, yet surprisingly few sales. Imagine what could have been—perhaps a sequel on the new Switch by now?

Following the monumental success of GTA III, anticipation for IV was electric. With RenderWare outdated and new consoles to explore, Rockstar Leeds aimed high. Achieving their vision required several months of delay.

Sam Hause from Rockstar explained, “The new consoles [PS3 and 360] allow us to craft the GTA game we’ve always envisioned. Every aspect of the game has been reimagined. It’s massive and pushes hardware to its limits. Top engineers from Sony and Microsoft are assisting the team in Edinburgh. Our goal remains to exceed fan expectations and deliver the ultimate HD experience.”

Grand Theft Auto V

“We realize this is four months later than initially planned, and we understand the disappointment. However, trust us—it’s worth the wait. GTAV is ambitious and complex. A bit more polish is needed to meet our—and your—standards. We apologize for the delay and promise the team is working tirelessly. Expect it to meet or exceed your expectations by September.”

They weren’t wrong. GTA V became the most successful console game ever and remains a cornerstone of Rockstar’s legacy.

Red Dead Redemption 2

While not part of the GTA series, RDR2 is Rockstar’s masterpiece. Like its predecessors, RDR2 was delayed twice: first in spring 2017 for QA, then again in February 2018 to late October. Rockstar stated:

"We are thrilled to announce RDR2 will launch on October 26, 2018. We apologize for the delay. Extra polish was necessary. Thank you for your patience. When you play, we believe you’ll agree it was worth the wait."

As usual, the delay paid off, delivering a timeless masterpiece.

So here’s the takeaway: GTA 6 will arrive, and when it does, it will likely be incredible. See you in Vice City.