The release of GTA 6 has been postponed from May 26, 2026, to November 19, 2026. An insider report suggests that this decision was not easy for the decision-makers.
What does the insider report? In the latest talk from Insider Gaming on YouTube, well-connected industry insider Tom Henderson states that he has received additional details about the delay of GTA 6 from a developer at Rockstar.
Development costs are expected to increase by about 10 million US dollars per month due to the delay. Since the release has moved from May to November, we are talking about an increase in costs of approximately 60 million US dollars. With the inclusion of additional cost factors, the total sum could even rise to 100 million US dollars, Henderson further states.
A drop in the bucket
How does this figure compare? For comparison: The Chinese blockbuster hit Black Myth: Wukong from August 2024 reportedly had development costs of about 70 million US dollars, according to a report by Bloomberg.
If these numbers are accurate, some studios could develop a new AAA game solely from the additional costs incurred by development. It becomes even more absurd when one realizes that the enormous additional costs likely only represent a fraction of the total amount that Rockstar and Take-Two have invested in GTA 6.
According to estimates and insider reports, the development costs of GTA 6 are expected to be somewhere between 1 and 2 billion US dollars. In August 2025, we reported on an expert who estimated it to be 1.5 billion US dollars.
What else is being reported? Contrary to the fears of some Rockstar employees and fans, the recent layoffs are not expected to result in another delay of GTA 6. The game is reportedly content-complete, and the remaining months will be used for the necessary refinements that Rockstar is known for.
Whether the enormous costs for development will also be reflected in the price is a topic fans and experts have been discussing for many months. Some fear a three-digit price tag, while others downplay it, saying it is unlikely: Players fear GTA 6 could cost 100 €, experts say: That is unlikely.
