A large “Vice City” sign at sunset with an airplane flying overhead, symbolizing the setting of Grand Theft Auto VI.
Image credit: Rockstar Games

Grand Theft Auto 6 release date, trailers and latest news

As the world’s most anticipated video game (possibly ever), Grand Theft Auto 6 (or GTA 6) has a lot to prove – and we’re closer than ever to its elusive release date.

Table of Contents
  1. The Escapist recaps
  2. GTA 6 Release Date
  3. Expected GTA 6 price & pre-orders
  4. GTA 6 platforms 
  5. GTA 6 gameplay & trailer analysis 
  6. What is Grand Theft Auto 6 about?
  7. Ask The Escapist

The game has been nudged back multiple times, but Rockstar Games’ upcoming crim-sim is getting close to prime time now, and is expected to provide a huge boost to the video game industry at large.

Here’s everything you need to know about the first new entry in the series for 13 years, including when you can play it.


The Escapist recaps

  • GTA 6 is the next entry in the beloved GTA franchise, developed and published by Rockstar Games.
  • It’s faced many challenges getting to launch day – the most recent push-back means the GTA 6 release date is November 19, 2026.
  • The game will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. A GTA 6 PC release could be on the cards, but we don’t know anything about it yet.
  • Grand Theft Auto 6 will take place in Leonida, home to the modern-day Vice City, much to the delight of existing GTA fans who’ve resorted to other means of heading there.
  • Despite the delays, the hype surrounding GTA 6 is still strong. And even if another delay happens, or even a cancellation, there’s no reason to panic, with 2026 jam-packed with other highly anticipated games.

GTA 6 Release Date

Two women rapping into studio microphones in GTA game artwork
The characters in GTA 6 look like they could be some of the best in the franchise. Image credit: Rockstar Games

The GTA 6 release date is November 19, 2026. Originally, it was slated for a May 26 launch, but Rockstar Games delayed it “to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve.” Rumors about further delays are still prevalent, though. 

Many highly anticipated game releases are coming in 2026, so it’s probably better that GTA 6 is launching later in the year.

Expected GTA 6 price & pre-orders

The image is a still from the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer, featuring the male protagonist Jason. He is leaning against a tree at night in Vice City, holding a smartphone, and wearing a short-sleeve button-down shirt with a dark leaf pattern
Jason is always looking for a better life, but trouble always seems to find him. Image credit: Rockstar Games

No GTA 6 editions, prices, or pre-order details are currently unavailable. 

That being said, industry speculation estimates a $80 starting price. Although high, this cost is less than some had predicted. Although there are no pre-orders yet, players can wishlist the title on their preferred platform’s digital storefront.

GTA 6 platforms 

The image is a still from the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer, featuring a character identified as Cal Hapton (or an in-game NPC). He is relaxing in a swimming pool on a pink inflatable flamingo raft
Cal just loves chilling out. Image credit: Rockstar Games

GTA 6 will be released on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. 

A PC version for GTA 6 has yet to be announced, though many predict a 2027 or 2028 release, due to Rockstar’s history of staggered PC launches for titles like GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2.

One leak suggested GTA 6 wouldn’t get a physical edition to avoid leaks, but Rockstar has confirmed that’s not the plan.

GTA 6 gameplay & trailer analysis 

Despite a new GTA 6 release date being announced, a new trailer hasn’t been revealed since trailer 2; the last one shared was on May 6, 2025.

GTA 6’s trailer elegantly combines cutscenes with in-game footage, further emphasizing the cinematic quality of, not just the trailer, but the game in general. What we see in the trailer has reportedly been captured on PS5, thus demonstrating how smooth the experience for players will be.

Fans are briefly introduced to an array of characters, including Cal Hampton, Boobie Ike, Dre’Quan Priest, and Real Dimez. But it’s Jason Duval and Lucia Camios who take the spotlight, as expected, considering they’re the main protagonists.

Consequently, the trailer focuses on Jason’s life before Lucia leaves prison, and depicts the two of them establishing a life for themselves upon her release.

From what we can glean from the trailer, Jason and Lucia start as small-time criminals, but soon evolve into something more as they become embroiled in a “criminal conspiracy”. This will take them across the state of Leonida, by land and sea, and maybe even air. Here’s how you can prepare for the mayhem ahead.

What is Grand Theft Auto 6 about?

Scenic canyon road with cars and bridge in GTA game environment
The game looks ridiculously pretty. Image credit: Rockstar Games

GTA 6 will be an explosive action-adventure game, with an open-world setting that lets players explore the highs and lows of Leonida. Confirmed locations are as follows:

  • Vice City
  • Leonida Keys
  • Grassrivers
  • Port Gellhorn
  • Ambrosia
  • Mount Kalaga.

As for the main story, specific details remain unknown. In the GTA 6 trailer, we see Jason pick up Lucia from prison, meaning Lucia is already known as a criminal to the cops. As for Jason, he seems to be a kind of debt collector, at least in the beginning. 

One popular fan theory is that Jason is an undercover cop or part of the military, which many believe is confirmed in the trailer because Jason is referred to as a “fed”. The prison security guard, seemingly recognizing Jason, also leads some to believe he’s been at the prison before, perhaps as an officer of the law.

Another theory is that, whatever happens over the course of GTA 6, it’ll end in betrayal between Jason and Lucia, though no one agrees on who will cause it. Although the pair seems to have a solid relationship in the trailer, the world of GTA is far from stable, as witnessed in previous games.

Think you’re desperate for news? Some players are flying drones near Rockstar’s offices to catch a glimpse.

Ask The Escapist

When is GTA 6 being released?

GTA 6 is slated to release on November 19, 2026, barring any further delays.

How long has it been in development?

This is another hotly contested area within the fandom, as many disagree over when development officially began. The most common answer is over a decade, though some believe its development is closer to the eight-year mark instead, with Rockstar not focusing on the title until after Red Dead Redemption 2 launched. 

What platforms will the game be released on at launch?

GTA 6 will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S at launch.

Will GTA 6 be the biggest game of 2026?

More than likely, given the hype. Yet, it’s not necessarily the most exciting game of 2026. This year, like the previous two, promises some big experiences.


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Related Content
Table of Contents
  1. The Escapist recaps
  2. GTA 6 Release Date
  3. Expected GTA 6 price & pre-orders
  4. GTA 6 platforms 
  5. GTA 6 gameplay & trailer analysis 
  6. What is Grand Theft Auto 6 about?
  7. Ask The Escapist
Related Content
Table of Contents
  1. The Escapist recaps
  2. GTA 6 Release Date
  3. Expected GTA 6 price & pre-orders
  4. GTA 6 platforms 
  5. GTA 6 gameplay & trailer analysis 
  6. What is Grand Theft Auto 6 about?
  7. Ask The Escapist
Related Content
Table of Contents
  1. The Escapist recaps
  2. GTA 6 Release Date
  3. Expected GTA 6 price & pre-orders
  4. GTA 6 platforms 
  5. GTA 6 gameplay & trailer analysis 
  6. What is Grand Theft Auto 6 about?
  7. Ask The Escapist
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Emma Flint
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Ever since Emma watched her mum play Alex Kidd back in the early 90s, she’s loved gaming. Now a Features Writer, with a particular fondness for RPGs, you can often find Emma starting yet another playthrough of the Dragon Age series. But she isn’t just a dedicated fangirl; she also has over 13 years of feature writing experience, having written for WIRED, The Guardian, TechRadar, and Inverse, to name but a few.
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Em Stonham
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