Take-Two Interactive reaffirms Grand Theft Auto 6 release date, says: Launch marketing to begin…

GTA maker Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive, has reaffirmed that the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto (GTA) VI is set to launch on November 19, 2026. The company has also confirmed that Rockstar Games will begin its marketing campaign for the upcoming game this summer. This suggests that the title, which has already been delayed twice over the last couple of years, is on track to launch on the given date.According to a report by IGN, a statement confirming the launch of GTA 6 appeared in Take-Two's Q3 2026 earnings results, in which the publisher expressed unusual confidence about the release. The company said: “Our execution throughout Fiscal 2026 has been extraordinary and we are highly confident as we approach Fiscal 2027 – which promises to be groundbreaking for Take-Two and the entire entertainment industry – led by the November 19th release of Grand Theft Auto VI with Rockstar's launch marketing set to begin this Summer.”The announcement marks a shift in tone following two separate delays for Grand Theft Auto 6. The decision to launch marketing initiatives this summer indicates that Rockstar has met development milestones that warrant public promotion, a step typically reserved for initiatives the company is confident will meet its goals. However, Rockstar has not released a third trailer since GTA 6's second trailer dropped in May 2025, so the next trailer could arrive in summer, though it may also come slightly earlier.What Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said about GTA 6’s release dateReplying to questions about how he currently feels about GTA 6's release date, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said, "I feel good about it. Very good about it," the report noted.However, when Zelnick was asked the same question earlier, he said he felt "really good" about the initially announced fall 2025 release date before the game was delayed twice. Responding to questions about whether this time was different in some way, he noted, "Of course, because any time you're getting closer to marketing beats, you're obviously in a place where your confidence level is as high as it can be,” the report added.GTA 6 is one of the most highly anticipated games in recent years. Many are already suggesting it as a potential Game of the Year contender despite no official gameplay footage having been released yet. However, leaks and AI fakes went viral on social media late last year. Further delays of the game could even have industry-wide impacts. So far, two cinematic trailers for the game have been released. These trailers show the dual protagonists, Duval and Lucia Caminos, and the setting of Leonida, Florida, including the infamous Vice City.Even without GTA 6, the GTA franchise had a strong quarter. It "vastly outpaced" Take-Two's forecasts, with GTA+ membership levels nearly doubling year over year. Sharing insights into GTA 5's strong quarter, Zelnick pointed to the Safehouse in the Hills update for GTA Online as doing exceptionally well. GTA 5 has now sold over 225 million units.Overall, Take-Two brought in net bookings of $1.76 billion for the quarter. The company is raising its expectations following a better-than-expected quarter across multiple fronts, with total annual net bookings expected to range from $6.65 billion to $6.7 billion, representing approximately 18% year-over-year growth. Take-Two also expects that nearly half of its full-year earnings, which it will report next quarter, will come from its mobile business, Zynga.