Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI is set to released on November 19, 2026, after several recent delays. The developer confirmed the new release plan in November 2025. The last game may have released 13 years ago, but it still makes millions from its GTA Online live service to this day. GTA V is the second best selling game of all time, with 220 million copies sold, and it has made Rockstar more than $10 billion in revenue over that time.
So, understandably, the impact of the next instalment’s release will have a huge impact on many areas of the video game business. This article will look at some of those impacts across the console and mobile game markets as well as the cultural and business decisions that have already been influenced by this long-delayed release announcement.
The Delay is also to Console Gaming’s New Era
The new GTA 6 release date put Rockstar’s long-awaited title in the holiday sales window. The business may expect that many players choose to finally upgrade to new hardware just to play GTA 6, as it won’t be released on last generation consoles.
Retailers and manufacturers will be looking to schedule promotions specifically around the double whammy of holiday sales and the release of one of the most awaited games of all time, to increase console sales dramatically. This will also be boosted by PC gamers wanting to get in on the action ahead of the traditionally-delayed PC version of the game which isn’t expected to drop until 2027.
Other game publishers may also now be wary of releasing their triple A titles at around the same time. GTA VI’s release will undoubtedly dominate the gaming discourse and social media channels for at least several weeks afterwards and almost every popular streamer is likely to get involved. This leaves promotional opportunities for other big budget games squeezed out – possibly leading to delays.
Another interesting aspect is the rumours that GTA VI may not come with a physical release. This could be a big turning point for the business, if true, as it shows that the very biggest games may now be moving away from a day one disc release model. With physical media now representing around 10% of video game sales yearly, this trend has been in the cards for a long time – and should GTA VI release without a physical disc on day one this could represent the business fully adapting to that change.
GTA Is Such a Big Release Even Mobile Developers Will be Influenced
Even though GTA 6 won’t be releasing any kind of official mobile version, mobile tie ins and companion apps could reasonably become part of the rollout. And even if Rockstar doesn’t go down this route, third party companies will absolutely try and hop on the tailwind of such a massive release. If they do, this could cement the idea of cross platform progression as something for even the biggest AAA games to think about in the future.
As gamers become more comfortable with multi-platform play, the market opens up for other digital entertainment formats. When looking for a casino online in Canada, players expect the same level of security, stability and live-service features that modern mobile gaming releases offer. Just as people will use apps and online guides to make the most of their GTA VI experience on release, casino comparison sites help players parse through the noise to find the best way forward.
GTA Online will probably see a significant boost in player interest approaching the release date, and mobile developers in the ecosystem around the existing giant title could also benefit. Ad spending on mobile platforms could also change. GTA could either mean delaying ads, pausing them or even creating new campaigns that can hitch on huge amount of excitement this release will create.
Financial Forecasts and Developer Planning Will be Affected
After GTA VI was delayed from a late 2025 to a late 2026 launch, Battlefield 6 developer EA claimed that they sold around a million more units that forecasted – which CEO Andrew Wilson said was partly down to not competing with GTA. Reportedly, the heads of several major live studio games said they are already considering delaying major updates so they don’t fall around the time of GTA IV’s release.
The rearrangement in scheduling may become obvious when players get a glut of big-budget titles dropping in the month or two after GTA releases. On the other hand, indie publishers who can afford to be a little more agile with their scheduling could bust a gut to launch earlier in the year before this big launch captures the market’s attention.
One reason behind GTA IV’s delayed launch that hasn’t been discussed so much in gaming media has been the late 2025 firing of some 30 people who were working on the game. The former Rockstar North employees believe they were fired for unionizing, although Rockstar denies this. The issue reflects a wider trend in the videogame business, although the involvement of one of the biggest and most high profile developers in the sector could signal a turning point in union and developer relationships.