15 December 2025

What to Expect From GTA 6 in 2026

By newsgame

Grand Theft Auto 6 is a game that’s been on a lot of minds this year. Rockstar has continued to one-up itself with each new game that it releases, and that powerful legacy has made the hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6 intimidating. It’s hard to imagine what the developers at Rockstar are thinking as the internet continues to speculate about the game, but next year will hopefully be the moment that gamers have been waiting for.

To say that GTA 6 is highly anticipated is an understatement. Many gamers have gone so far as to build conspiracy theories, trying to predict new announcements, trailers, and even trying to track down the identities of the game’s actors. The wait for GTA 6 has been years in the making, and with it currently being 12 years since the last GTA game, fans of the crime-filled franchise are ready for more. Between leaks, rumors, delays, and even lay-offs at Rockstar a year before launch, GTA 6‘s development has been eventful, and 2026 aims to be the culmination of several years of hype.

GTA 6 is now slated to launch on November 19, 2026.

Questions About GTA 6’s Price Will Soon Be Answered, But Don’t Expect Rockstar at Any Big Gaming Events

If Rockstar repeats the same strategy it had with GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, then the game’s price may be revealed sometime in the middle of the year. Pre-orders for both GTA 5 and RDR2 went live around four months before each game’s launch, so it wouldn’t be surprising if GTA 6 was given the same treatment. If that’s the case, then GTA 6 pre-orders could launch sometime in July, which is also the most likely way the price will be revealed. It’s always possible that Rockstar decides to announce the game’s price before pre-orders, but this seems less likely.

Rockstar is Likely to Continue to Play by its Own Rules

When it comes to marketing, Rockstar doesn’t really rely on gaming events, so for those hoping to see GTA 6 at Summer Game Fest, it may be worth lowering those expectations. Over the years, Rockstar has preferred to drop trailers and announcements whenever it sees fit, so events like Summer Game Fest and Gamescom are more than likely off the table. Rockstar’s secrecy has paved the way for GTA 6 leaks in the past, as a lot of longtime fans are hungry for more footage, especially gameplay. However, Rockstar probably won’t showcase anything until the developer feels that the timing is right. The closer the game gets to its new release date, the more likely it is for deep dives on specific mechanics to start being released, and they’ll likely be shared directly on Rockstar’s channels and socials.

GTA 6’s Long-Awaited Third Trailer Could Showcase More Cinematic Moments

Although Rockstar keeps the game shrouded in mystery, the possibility of a third GTA 6 trailer is incredibly high unless the developer decides to really shake things up. There’s the chance that the third trailer could showcase proper gameplay, but it’s more likely that more cinematic moments will be front and center. For GTA 5 and RDR2‘s third trailers, the former offered a deep dive into Michael, Trevor, and Franklin’s lives, while the latter focused on the Van der Linde gang. In terms of gameplay, neither trailer has much to offer, but that’s not entirely bad news. Rockstar tends to drop separate gameplay videos ahead of a game’s launch. This was done with GTA 5 and RDR2, so the same may happen for GTA 6.

What to Expect From GTA 6’s Third Trailer

More hints at the game’s story
Fresh insight into characters
Potential sneak peeks at raw gameplay, but nothing extensive

The second GTA 6 trailer focused largely on Jason and Lucia, so the next trailer may shine a light on the more mysterious characters like Raul Bautista.

GTA 6 Will Finally Be Released (Hopefully)

GTA 6 has already been delayed twice, and while Rockstar appears to be locked in with the new release date, another delay is always possible. It’s always good to be prepared for another GTA 6 delay, and even though the new release date feels more concrete this time around, nothing is really certain until pre-orders are launched.

Rockstar is No Stranger to Game Delays

Game	Delay Time
GTA 3	Pushed back 3 weeks
GTA: Vice City	Pushed back a week
GTA: San Andreas	Pushed back a week
Red Dead Redemption	Launched a month later than planned
LA Noire	Stuck in development hell for years, missed its 2008 target, and finally launched in 2011.
GTA 4	Delayed by 6 months
GTA 5	Delayed by 6 months
Red Dead Redemption 2	Faced 3 delays, one internal, two public

Rockstar’s GTA 6 is Set to Be a Historic Launch

What to Expect From GTA 6 at Launch

At launch, GTA 6 will only be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Playing as dual protagonists, Jason and Lucia.
Like past entries, GTA 6 is an action-adventure game centered around heists and various crimes.
The franchise returns to Vice City for the first time in 20 years.
A new iteration of GTA Online (though this could release a few weeks later, similar to GTA 5‘s online mode)

There have already been several GTA 6 map locations confirmed. These areas include Vice City, Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, and Mount Kalaga.

It’s no secret that GTA 6 is expected to be the biggest game of 2026, but it’s also important to keep one’s expectations in check. As mentioned before with Cyberpunk 2077, hype doesn’t guarantee a good launch. Rockstar has a strong track record and is taking extra time to polish the game, so GTA 6 is likely to launch in a good state, but nothing is impossible. Game development is getting more and more complex, and only time will tell if GTA 6‘s launch state causes any controversy.

Next year could be the moment GTA fans’ dreams come true, but it’s important to remember that the possibility of GTA 6 getting delayed again is still very much there. That hopefully won’t be the case, but no matter what happens, 2026 is going to be filled with GTA 6 anticipation.