According to the latest news, there is good reason to believe that Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) will be released next year. Rockstar parent company Take-Two said in its quarterly investor note that development on the next Grand Theft Auto game is "well underway" and that "several groundbreaking games" will be released during fiscal 2025, with signs that one of them is the new Grand Theft Auto.
Take-Two's fiscal year 2025 will begin in April 2024, so these "groundbreaking" games are scheduled for release sometime next year or at the latest early 2025. Take-Two also said the games will set a new standard for the industry and will propel the company to $8 billion in net sales in fiscal years and carry that momentum into the next fiscal year.
While these news have brought some certainty to GTA 6's release date, the fact that big games are often delayed in releasing is starting to feel like an inevitability. Therefore, even if Grand Theft Auto is currently scheduled for release next year, there is no guarantee that there will be no delays.
Last year, a major leak revealed many details about GTA 6, including that it will be set in Victoria City and have two protagonists. Take-Two said the hack led to the arrest of a 17-year-old but did not affect GTA 6 development.
It's worth mentioning that in addition to GTA 6, Take-Two plans to release other "groundbreaking" games in fiscal year 2025. Take-Two earned $5.3 billion in revenue in the past fiscal year and expects to continue to earn similar revenue in the following fiscal years. To achieve this, they need to earn an additional $2.5 billion in revenue from these "groundbreaking" games in fiscal year 2025. One of those games could be Judas, a new game from BioShock creator Ken Levine, but it's hard to imagine it being the one that makes a $2.5 billion difference.
For Rockstar and Take-Two, the GTA series has been one of the most important assets. The series not only made huge profits, but also built Rockstar's reputation as a game developer. Therefore, the release of GTA 6 was crucial for Rockstar and Take-Two.
Overall, while the exact release date of GTA 6 remains uncertain, Take-Two's announcement suggests that the game is in active development and is expected to be released next year. This is undoubtedly exciting news for fans of the GTA series and the gaming industry.