GTA 6 was first officially acknowledged in February 2022; its first trailer followed in December 2023. This timeline tracks the major announcements, video releases and changes to the launch target. For the current release date, platforms and practical launch information, use the GTA 6 Launch Hub.
GTA 6 announcements at a glance
The dates in the first column identify announcements or video releases, not the game's launch. Release targets are labelled within each entry.
| Date | Announcement / change | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| Development acknowledged Rockstar confirms work on the next Grand Theft Auto. No title or release window is given. | Rockstar | |
| Trailer 1 released Grand Theft Auto VI is revealed with a 2025 release window. | Trailer 1 2023 release | |
| Release window narrowed Take-Two specifies fall 2025. This refines the existing year rather than moving beyond it. | Take-Two | |
| First postponement The fall 2025 window is replaced by May 26, 2026, the first exact release date. | Take-Two | |
| Trailer 2 released A second trailer follows. The target remains May 26, 2026. | Trailer 2 2025 release | |
| Second postponement Rockstar sets November 19, 2026, replacing the May date. | Take-Two | |
| Editions and pre-orders detailed Rockstar sets pre-orders for June 25, at midnight local time. The release target remains November 19, 2026. | Rockstar release (PDF) | |
| An Extended Look released Rockstar publishes its longer presentation, captured in game on PS5. The launch target remains November 19, 2026. | Extended Look |
An acknowledgement is different from a reveal
Rockstar's February 2022 community update confirmed that work on the next Grand Theft Auto was well underway. It did not announce the GTA VI title, a trailer or a release window. Trailer 1 supplied the named reveal and the original 2025 target in December 2023.
Trailer 1 and time zones. Rockstar's Trailer 1 page dates the video December 4, 2023. The official YouTube premiere began at 23:07 UTC that day, already December 5 at 00:07 in Zurich. This timeline uses the video's actual release day in UTC for that row; other announcement dates follow the issuing publisher.
How the release target changed
The sequence is 2025 → fall 2025 → May 26, 2026 → November 19, 2026. Take-Two's May 2024 update made the original year more specific. It did not move the game into a later year.
This timeline counts two announced postponements: a move beyond the previous fall 2025 window, then a move beyond the May 26, 2026 date. It does not count a narrower window within the same year as another delay. Trailer 2 arrived between those postponements; a new trailer did not itself change the target.
Pre-orders and the longer presentation
The June 24, 2026 publisher release set out the editions and announced pre-orders for June 25 at midnight local time. Those are two different dates: publication of the announcement, then the scheduled opening. Rockstar's current pre-order guidance lists the official purchase options. Our Standard and Ultimate edition comparison explains the editions separately.
An Extended Look was released on August 27, 2026. Rockstar identifies its footage as captured in game on PS5. Our Extended Look guide separates that presentation from the accompanying preview reporting.
Upcoming officially announced milestones
As of September 11, 2026, these dates are still in the future. They are announced plans, not completed events.
- November 12, 2026 — digital pre-loading: Rockstar's platform and edition guidance gives midnight local time for digital pre-orders. Pre-loading is not the start of playable access.
- November 19, 2026 — planned launch: the official GTA VI site continues to give this date for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It is the latest announced release date checked for this timeline.
The dates above describe the public schedule. They do not reveal when individual systems were finished or how far development had progressed at each announcement. The GTA 6 release guide provides further release context; the Launch Hub linked above maintains the current practical details.