GTA 6 Delay Could Postpone Next-Gen Consoles
The ripple effects of Grand Theft Auto VI’s recent delay may extend far beyond Rockstar Games, potentially influencing the entire console market. According to industry analysis, the new November 2026 release date could cause Sony and Microsoft to reconsider the launch timeline for their next-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
The reasoning, explained by Piers Harding-Rolls, Research Director of Games at Ampere Analysis, centers on GTA 6’s unparalleled power to drive hardware sales. A blockbuster title of this magnitude can define a console generation’s lifecycle, and releasing it late in the cycle presents a strategic dilemma.
“Sony and Microsoft will have wanted a much earlier release than late 2026 so they could generate momentum earlier in the cycle,” Harding-Rolls stated. With GTA VI now launching in late 2026, the console manufacturers face a choice: stick to a potential 2027 release for their next-gen systems or delay them to 2028 to fully capitalize on the years of hardware sales that a game like GTA 6 guarantees.
This strategy has precedent. Rockstar’s titles have historically launched near the end of a console generation to maximize the audience. Grand Theft Auto V was released in September 2013, just two months before the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One arrived. By releasing GTA VI in late 2026, the current PS5 and Xbox Series X/S will be six years old, making a 2028 console launch seem more likely to give the game room to drive sales.
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For gamers, this means the current console generation might have a longer lifespan than expected. While next-gen specs and features are always exciting, the industry may decide that riding the GTA 6 wave is more valuable than an early hardware transition.