Red Dead Redemption 2 Reportedly Delayed GTA 6 by Years

 

Rockstar Games originally planned to develop Grand Theft Auto VI and Red Dead Redemption 2 simultaneously, but the growing demands of its Western adventure reportedly forced the studio to postpone significant work on GTA 6.

According to a new Bloomberg investigation by Jason Schreier, Rockstar initially intended to continue developing both major titles in parallel.

Early planning for GTA 6 reportedly began in 2015, when developers visited Miami to research locations for the upcoming open-world game.

However, as Red Dead Redemption 2 became increasingly ambitious, Rockstar needed to dedicate more employees, resources, and senior leadership to completing the project.

This shift reportedly pushed GTA 6's development schedule back by several years, with the company directing its main production efforts toward the next Grand Theft Auto following Red Dead Redemption 2's release in 2018.

The decision also marked a significant change in Rockstar's development structure. Instead of having separate studios independently produce several major games, the company began coordinating its global teams around a shared flagship project.

Despite the delays, the work completed on Red Dead Redemption 2 also benefited GTA 6. Technologies, development tools, and production experience gained during the Western game's creation reportedly helped establish the foundations for Rockstar's next open-world title.

The report provides additional insight into why GTA 6 has taken so long to develop, although Red Dead Redemption 2 was not the only factor affecting its production timeline.

Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.