"Insane, but it's there" says actor's union about the exemption of the upcoming open-world title by Rockstar Games.
The mere mention of a potential "Grand Theft Auto 6 delay" sends shivers through the gaming industry, evoking a mix of fear, dread, and excitement. The recently kicked off SAG-AFTRA strike against the use of AI in the acting profession ignited fears that the big release everyone is waiting for might be affected — but luckily, we have good news.
Companies like Ubisoft and Xbox have their eyes firmly fixed on GTA 6's release window, either hoping to ride the wave of its success or strategically planning their own releases to avoid being overshadowed by a game that Take-Two Interactive claims will set a new creative benchmark in entertainment.
Given the immense anticipation surrounding GTA 6, it's no surprise that rumors of a potential delay due to the SAG-AFTRA strike quickly spread over the weekend. While initial reports suggested an inevitable GTA 6 delay, documents obtained by Kotaku later confirmed that the game is exempt from the strike, as it began development before September 2023.
On July 26, voice actors from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) voted to strike after nearly two years of failed negotiations with video game companies like Activision, Electronic Arts, and Insomniac Games. The union sought "critical A.I. protections for members" in their proposed new agreement.
Although GTA 6 won't be affected by the strike, the long-term impact remains uncertain. The last SAG-AFTRA strike in 2016 lasted nearly a year and disrupted the release timelines of several AAA titles — too bad big publishers didn't learn that time around, and are up to no good once more.
A GTA 6 delay would not be uncharacteristic for Rockstar Games. They have a reputation for pushing back the release date of their biggest titles, especially to spend more time polishing titles to meet their high standards.
However, earlier this year Take-Two confirmed that GTA 6 is on track for a Fall 2025 release, meaning it could launch between September and December 2025, and positioning it as the biggest game of next year's holiday season.
Apart from the release window, the only other confirmed info we have is that Rockstar is fully committed to launching GTA 6 before the end of 2025, as evidenced by their controversial Return-to-Office mandate for all employees.
As fans eagerly await the second trailer, it's unlikely to arrive before Take-Two's next earnings call in August.
