Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has made a characteristically confident—and characteristically accurate—prediction about the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6. In a new interview with The Game Business, Zelnick stated his belief that “everybody over the age of 17” with a console will be playing the game when it launches later this year.
“If you have a console and you’re over 17, just explain to me how is that you’ve decided, no, no, Grand Theft Auto 6, not interested. I just don’t see it,” Zelnick said.
It’s a bold claim. It’s also almost certainly true.
The Long Road to November
The journey to this moment has been anything but smooth. After 13 years of Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online, fans finally got their first official look at the sequel in December 2023, with a trailer that confirmed a Fall 2025 release window. That window was later pushed to May 2026, and then again to the current date: November 19, 2026.
Each delay tested the patience of a fanbase already stretched to its limits. But as the finish line finally comes into view, Zelnick’s confidence reflects a broader shift within the company.
Marketing Plans and Solid Dates
Earlier this year, Zelnick made another unusual move: he publicly confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6‘s marketing campaign will begin this summer. For a studio and publisher known for extreme secrecy, announcing marketing plans ahead of time is almost unprecedented. It signals a level of certainty that simply didn’t exist during previous delays.
Industry insiders have even claimed that Take-Two has privately reaffirmed the November launch date to both PlayStation and Xbox, suggesting the date is truly locked in.
The April Theory
With summer marketing confirmed, attention has turned to when the next trailer—Trailer 3—might actually drop. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Rockstar recently announced three weeks’ worth of GTA Online bonuses in a single post, rather than the usual weekly drip-feed. This “clearing of the calendar” has fueled speculation that an announcement could come as early as April, allowing Rockstar to dominate headlines without competing with its own live-service updates.
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The Bottom Line
Whether the next trailer arrives in April, May, or June, Zelnick’s confidence is clear. Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming. And according to the man in charge, everyone over 17 is going to play it.