GTA 6 could upend the entire gaming industry – developers massively delay releases

The official launch window for Grand Theft Auto 6 is set for fall 2025, and that date is already having a tangible impact on the entire gaming industry. Game companies are adjusting their schedules to avoid overlapping with the release of one of the most anticipated projects of all time. New data confirms that the massive cultural impact of GTA 6’s release can literally “burn out” everything around it – no other release can match the power of the Rockstar brand.

Autumn 2025: The Desert of Major Releases

GTA 6 isn’t out yet, but it’s already causing a massive release review. According to The Game Business, three major publishers, including EA, are preparing to postpone the release of their projects in order to avoid hitting “three weeks of catastrophic blackout” after the launch of GTA 6.

“Rockstar is always sucking out not only money, but also the attention of the audience. We don’t want to end up next to that. We have several scenarios for the release of our games, and they all revolve around the launch date of GTA 6.”

E EA CEO Andrew Wilson has previously hinted that new Battlefield could be delayed to avoid competing with high-profile releases in 2025. Bloomberg also reported that publishers are slow to make announcements for fall 2025 as they wait to see if Rockstar will push back the launch to 2026. Until then, most will try to stay as far away from the anticipated date as possible.

At this point, most will try to stay as far away from the expected date as possible.

Which games will still release in fall 2025

Despite the industry’s caution, a few big projects remain on the calendar for now:

None of these games are positioned as competitors to GTA 6 yet – rather, they’re releases trying to “sneak in” before or after the main event of the year.

GTA 6 is a phenomenon with a record-breaking history

Grand Theft Auto V still holds the title of most successful entertainment launch in history. In September 2013, GTA V accounted for half of all gaming revenue in the US, and in the UK it held 89% of sales share in its first week, accounting for 94% of revenue of the total gaming market.

The hype surrounding GTA 6 is as great as, or perhaps even greater than, previous releases. Every teaser, leak, or rumor sparks a wave of discussion. In 2022, a hacker who leaked an early build of the game was deemed a danger to society and institutionalized indefinitely.

Possible price hike and domino effect

According to analyst Matthew Ball of Epyllion, GTA 6 could come out at $80 or even $100, setting a new price standard. Some developers believe that such a move could prompt the industry as a whole to rethink pricing, especially amid development costs and a desire to release more elaborate projects.

Nevertheless, such a price tag could elicit a mixed reaction from audiences – not every studio is able to offer the level of quality Rockstar can offer to justify a cost above $70.

Online mode: start immediately or later?

GTA 6 is expected to release first as single-player, with multiplayer to be added later – similar to GTA V. However, even without the online mode, the release promises complete dominance of the media field, with both gaming and mainstream media focusing solely on GTA 6 in the weeks leading up to and following the release.

And even without the online mode, GTA 6 is expected to be the first game to be released as a single-player game.

Even popular live services like Fortnite and Call of Duty won’t be able to tug at the audience’s attention. GTA is a game that appeals to a wide range of users, from shooter fans to fans of mobile titles. That means even the most devoted fans of other franchises will temporarily switch to Rockstar’s new blockbuster.

If GTA 6 gets delayed again, the industry will freeze in 2026

Although Take-Two Interactive says it will release on time, Rockstar has a history of postponements: GTA 4, Chinatown Wars, Red Dead Redemption, GTA V, and Red Dead Redemption II have all been delayed.

If GTA 6 does get pushed back, 2026 could repeat the fate of 2025, turning into another “release desert.” Publishers may once again refrain from making announcements, waiting for Rockstar’s new moves. What’s more, fans could react sharply negatively, putting additional pressure on the team and investors.

But for now, everything points to a fall 2025 launch – and it’s going to be a real storm that no one wants to go in unprepared for.