The most recent Grand Theft Auto 6 delay could be big enough to push next-gen console releases back, according to one analyst. It's no secret that the game is one of the most-anticipated titles in recent memory, and it will undoubtedly make a big splash when it finally releases. The ripple effects of the eventual launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 may even convince Sony and Microsoft to hold off on debuting their new hardware for a bit.

Rockstar sent the gaming world into a frenzy when it delayed GTA 6 for the first time. Now, GTA 6 has been pushed back again, with an eye on a November 2026 release date, instead of the previous target of May of the same year. While many saw this latest delay coming, its timing could affect the launch of consoles currently planned to come out around the same time.

GTA 6's newest delay could cost Rockstar half a billion dollars.
GTA 6's Latest Delay Could Cost Half a Billion Dollars

Industry experts suggest Grand Theft Auto 6's most recent release delay could cost Rockstar millions amid an already bloated development budget.

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Analyst Says Sony and Xbox Could Delay Next-Gen Consoles to Capitalize on GTA 6

Piers Harding-Rolls, Ampere Analytics' games research director, told GamesIndustry.biz that GTA 6 will have "a significant impact on console sales dynamics in 2026," possibly enough to delay next-gen hardware. Current leaks suggest the PlayStation 6 is aiming for a late 2027 release, and many predict the next Xbox to arrive around the same time. However, Harding-Rolls points out that Grand Theft Auto 6 could be such a powerful console sales driver that Sony and Microsoft could "be tempted to get more from the current console generation" by pushing their new systems back by another year or so.

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At first, such a delay may seem odd when current-gen consoles would still have a year to profit from GTA 6 before the new ones release. However, Harding-Rolls emphasized that the game is big enough to push system sales higher for years after its launch. After all, the title is riding on over a decade of hype since GTA 5's release and is shaping up to be one of the biggest game launches in history. Given that Xbox saw a massive dip in console revenue in the last fiscal year and its next system is rumored to be expensive, it would make sense if the company would want to squeeze more out of the Series X/S by capitalizing on GTA 6. Sony has also remarked that the PS5 is just halfway through its lifecycle, so it may also want to drive more PS5 sales before debuting the PS6.

Grand Theft Auto 6’s Rumored Approach to Weapons May Be a Double-Edged Sword

At the same time, console companies may ultimately decide that it'd be more profitable to stick with their current release plans than to adjust them around Grand Theft Auto. If any game can impact these timelines, though, it's GTA 6, considering that GTA 5 is the best-selling game of the past decade in terms of both units sold and money earned. Nothing is certain for now, and Harding-Rolls did stress that a console delay is not a guarantee, but it might be on the table.

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Grand Theft Auto 6
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Action
Adventure
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Released
November 19, 2026
ESRB
Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+
Developer(s)
Rockstar Games
Publisher(s)
Rockstar Games
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Genre(s)
Action, Adventure

Source: GamesIndustry.biz