The sixth main entry to the highly popular Grand Theft Auto (GTA) video game franchise is due to be released in the autumn of 2025, according to the game’s US-based publisher Take-Two.
In a financial statement released today, the company said that the release window for GTA VI had been narrowed down from “Calendar 2025 to Fall of Calendar 2025” by developer Rockstar Games, quashing rumours that it would be pushed back to 2026.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting a sequel since the 2013 release of GTA V, which smashed six Guinness World Records, one of which included the fastest grossing of US$1 billion by an entertainment property.
Take-Two also announced that GTA V had sold around 200 million copies since its release.
While an exact release date for its highly anticipated sequel has expected to be unveiled, GTA VI is already expected to break even more records, with video gaming industry expert Dmitri Williams telling the BBC that the new game will perform better than its predecessor as the GTA brand remains strong and the gaming industry has expanded in the intervening years.
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The official trailer of GTA VI, which was released in early December 2023, has already made headlines. It amassed more than 93 million views on YouTube in just one day, becoming the platform’s most viewed trailer in 24 hours.
Take-Two said, “we are highly confident that Rockstar Games will deliver an unparalleled entertainment experience, and our expectations for the commercial impact of the title continue to increase.”
Development of the game has not been entirely smooth, however, with an early version of the game being leaked in what the media called one of the biggest incidents of this type in gaming history.
The GTA series has been controversial since it was first released in 1997. As an open world game, it allows players to freely roam around a fictional American city in the role of a criminal and engage in all manners of illegal activities, including murder, carjacking and robbery.
Despite criticisms, the game has been very well-received by the gaming industry for pushing the boundaries of console technology and implementing innovative gameplay features.
