GTA 6 Release Date Stays on Track: Vice City Return Promises a Game ‘Worth the Wait

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Written By Keith Keohan

Grand Theft Auto 6 is shaping up to be the entertainment event of the decade, and the wait may finally be nearing its end. During a recent earnings call, Take-Two Interactive, the publisher behind GTA 6, reaffirmed that the game is still on track for its highly anticipated release in late 2025.

Fans first caught a glimpse of GTA 6 back in 2023, when Rockstar Games debuted the official trailer. The teaser sent the internet into a frenzy, with devoted players dissecting every frame for potential hints about the game’s content and setting. While the trailer was groundbreaking, it also marked the beginning of an agonizingly long wait, leaving fans hungry for more details.

A Promising Release Timeline

In an earnings call on May 16, 2024, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick provided a more specific release window, stating, “We do feel highly confident that we’ll deliver [GTA 6] in fall of 2025.” Although some skeptics worry the launch could slip into 2026, Zelnick emphasized that the game will be “worth waiting for.”

This reassurance has fans buzzing with renewed excitement, though many are still left wondering when Rockstar will drop a second trailer. The first trailer, released in celebration of Rockstar’s 25th anniversary, shattered YouTube viewership records. It also earned an ironic distinction: the longest gap between first and second trailers for a Rockstar title.

What We Know So Far

So, what can we expect from GTA 6? If the rumors are true, the game will take players back to the neon-drenched streets of Vice City, a fan-favorite setting from previous installments. From enhanced graphics to expanded open-world gameplay, GTA 6 is expected to push the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming.

While pricing details are still under wraps, it’s safe to assume that Rockstar’s next masterpiece will command a premium price tag, reflecting years of development and the scale of the project.

As we edge closer to the release date, speculation continues to mount about the game’s features, storylines, and even potential multiplayer modes. But one thing is clear: with Rockstar’s track record and Take-Two’s confidence, GTA 6 is primed to be worth every minute of the wait.

The wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 has been long and suspenseful, but the finish line might finally be in sight. While a concrete release date remains elusive, fans have been piecing together clues from trailers and comments by Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two Interactive. Here’s the latest on when we might get our hands on one of the most anticipated games of the decade.

The First Trailer: A 2025 Tease

Back in December 2023, Rockstar Games dropped the first teaser trailer for GTA 6. The 90-second clip ended with the words “Coming 2025,” sending fans into a frenzy. However, that release window has since disappeared from marketing materials, leaving fans wondering if delays might be on the horizon.

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the topic in a May 2024 earnings call, confirming that the company is targeting a fall 2025 release window. “We’re highly confident,” Zelnick said, offering reassurance to fans concerned about potential setbacks.

Could GTA 6 Be Delayed?

While Take-Two’s confidence is encouraging, there’s reason to approach the 2025 release window cautiously. Looking at Rockstar’s history, delays have been par for the course. Consider Red Dead Redemption 2: its first teaser trailer debuted in October 2016, promising a second-half-of-2017 launch. The game ultimately released in October 2018—two years after its initial teaser.

If GTA 6 follows a similar trajectory, a delay to late 2025 or even 2026 wouldn’t be surprising.

In fact, rumors of a delay have been swirling since March 2024. According to a Kotaku report, insiders at Rockstar suggested that development had “fallen behind,” and leadership was growing concerned about meeting the 2025 timeline. In February 2024, Rockstar mandated a full return-to-office policy for its developers, a move reportedly tied to quality control efforts and the game’s progress.

Kotaku’s sources hinted that an early 2025 release had once been possible but was no longer realistic. These concerns align with Strauss Zelnick’s updated autumn 2025 target, though the possibility of a slip into 2026 remains.

What Rockstar Has Said About GTA 6

Despite the whispers of delays, Take-Two has consistently emphasized the scale and ambition of GTA 6. In December 2024, Zelnick teased that the game would be “extraordinary and worth waiting for,” adding that it would be “breathtaking.”

During the most recent earnings call, Take-Two reaffirmed its commitment to a 2025 launch. Whether that confidence holds as we approach the release date is another story, but fans can rest assured that Rockstar is pulling out all the stops to deliver a game that lives up to its monumental expectations.

Where Is GTA 6 Set? Welcome Back to Vice City

The long-awaited return to Vice City has been one of the worst-kept secrets in gaming, and now it’s finally official. After years of speculation, Rockstar confirmed the iconic location in the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6.

But this isn’t the Vice City you remember from 2002—it’s bigger, more detailed, and seemingly more ambitious than ever.

Vice City: A Modern Take on a Classic Setting

Vice City has always been Rockstar’s love letter to Miami, and the new game looks set to expand on that foundation in meaningful ways. Early leaks from September 2022—when a hacker revealed 90 videos and screenshots of the game in development—pointed to a sprawling map with far more locations than the original GTA: Vice City.

The trailer reinforced this, showing glimpses of road signs, airports, and landmarks, all suggesting a significantly larger and more diverse setting.

What’s New in Vice City?

The trailer gives us our first official look at the state of “Leonida,” a fictionalized representation of Florida. Social media posts and signage in the teaser offered a tongue-in-cheek glimpse of the culture, with one quip reading, “Only in Leonida is a crotch grab an apology for bad driving.”

Other locations teased include:

  • VCI Airport
  • Catalan Boulevard
  • Kelly County
  • Vice Beaches
  • Port VC/Keys

These hints, combined with the game’s vibrant news packages and neon-soaked visuals, suggest Vice City will be more alive than ever before. Fans on Reddit have even started creating speculative maps based on the leaks, piecing together what could be one of the largest and most dynamic maps Rockstar has ever created.

What Platforms Will GTA 6 Be On? Here’s What We Know About Console Compatibility

With the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 drawing closer, many fans are asking the same questions: Which consoles will support the game, and will it feature cross-platform play? While Rockstar Games has yet to reveal the full list of supported platforms, here’s what we know so far based on leaks, expert opinions, and developer trends.

Confirmed Platforms: PS5 and Xbox Series X

For now, the only confirmed platforms for GTA 6 are the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. These consoles represent the current generation of gaming hardware, capable of delivering the kind of performance needed for the sprawling open-world simulations Rockstar is known for.

What About 4K and 60fps on PS5 Pro?

The possibility of GTA 6 running at 4K resolution with 60fps on the rumored PS5 Pro has been a hot topic of discussion. According to Richard Leadbetter of Digital Foundry, the answer might disappoint some fans.

In a September 2024 interview with IGN, Leadbetter explained why achieving 60fps could be a stretch:
“Grand Theft Auto games have always run complex simulations that push the CPU hard, which is why every GTA game has initially launched on their target platforms at 30fps (or lower). The PS5 Pro uses the same CPU as the PS5, and it would be extremely challenging to hit 60fps if the base PS5 version is targeting 30fps.”

This insight suggests that even with enhanced hardware like the PS5 Pro, Rockstar may stick to a 30fps target for the sake of maintaining its signature dense, detail-rich world.

Will Older Consoles Be Supported?

Given that the PS5 and Xbox Series X will be five years old by the time GTA 6 is released, the likelihood of it being available on older platforms like the PS4 and Xbox One seems slim. Rockstar has remained silent on whether these aging consoles will be supported, and the scale of the game could make it technically unfeasible.

What About PC and Cross-Platform Play?

One major question mark is whether GTA 6 will be released on PC at launch. While Rockstar has historically brought its flagship titles to PC, these releases often come months (or even years) after their console counterparts.

Cross-platform play is another unknown. Rockstar has yet to confirm whether GTA 6 will support cross-play between consoles and PC, but the feature is becoming increasingly common in modern multiplayer games. If Rockstar wants to keep GTA Online competitive in a cross-platform world, it may need to embrace the feature.

As of now, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are the only confirmed platforms for GTA 6, but the door remains open for other announcements as the release date approaches. Whether you’re on console or PC, one thing is certain: Rockstar’s latest epic will push the boundaries of gaming hardware to deliver an unforgettable experience.

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