Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) has been a highly anticipated game in the gaming community, and recent updates have confirmed its release date. According to Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, GTA 6 is set to be released in the fall of 2025. This announcement was made during the company's fourth-quarter and full fiscal year 2024 earnings report.
The earnings report also highlighted Take-Two Interactive's financial performance, which included a staggering $2.9 billion loss for the January 1-March 31 period. Despite this significant loss, the company reported net bookings of $1.35 billion. The trailer for GTA 6, unveiled in December, shattered YouTube viewership records, underscoring the immense anticipation for the title.
Wall Street analysts had forecasted earnings per share (EPS) of 9 cents on $1.3 billion in net bookings for Take-Two's latest quarter. However, the company reported a loss per share of $17.02 on $1.35 billion in net bookings, compared to the year-ago quarter's loss of $610.3 million and net bookings of $1.39 billion.
Key contributors to the quarter's net bookings included 'NBA 2K24,' which sold over 9 million units, 'Grand Theft Auto Online,' 'Grand Theft Auto V,' 'Toon Blast,' 'Empires & Puzzles,' and mobile games such as 'Red Dead Redemption 2,' 'Red Dead Online,' 'WWE 2K24,' 'Match Factory,' 'Words With Friends,' and 'Merge Dragons!'
Take-Two attributed the fiscal Q4 loss of $2.9 billion to a $2.18 billion goodwill charge, a $304.3 million hit for acquisition-related expenses, and restructuring costs of $93.3 million. For the full fiscal year 2024, which encompassed results from April 1, 2023-March 31, 2024, Take-Two reported a total revenue of $5.35 billion and a net loss of $3.7 billion.
GTA 6 Release Date and Development Timeline
The release date for GTA 6 has been a subject of much speculation, with some fans hoping for an earlier release in 2024. However, Rockstar Games has confirmed that the game will be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in the fall of 2025. A PC version is expected to follow in late 2026.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed confidence in the release window, stating, 'We do feel highly confident that we'll deliver [Grand Theft Auto VI] in fall of 2025.' This assertion was made clear in the company's latest earnings report and reiterated during the Take-Two annual shareholder meeting.
Despite rumors of potential delays, Rockstar Games remains committed to the original release date. The company has been working on GTA 6 since early development stages, with some sources suggesting that work began as early as 2018 or 2019. The game is set in modern-day Leonida, a fictionalized version of Florida, where players will assume control of Lucia and an unnamed male character.
Marketing and Trailers
The first official trailer for GTA 6 was released in December 2023, shattering YouTube viewership records. The trailer provided a glimpse into the game's setting and characters, including the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and the Florida Keys. A second trailer is anticipated, with some speculating it could drop as early as October 4, 2024.
Rockstar Games president Sam Houser confirmed that the marketing strategy for GTA 6 will include multiple trailers and in-game looks, promising an exciting period ahead for fans. The company's approach to marketing has been highly successful in the past, as seen with Red Dead Redemption 2's extensive promotional campaign.
Speculation and Community Reaction
The gaming community remains divided on the release date, with some fans hoping for an earlier release in 2024. However, most agree that Rockstar Games needs time to perfect the game, given its ambitious scope and the high standards set by previous titles in the series.
A Reddit thread discussing the potential release dates highlighted the community's anticipation and speculation. While some believe a fall 2024 release is possible, others argue that late 2025 is more realistic. The community's excitement is palpable, with many eagerly awaiting further updates and trailers.
In conclusion, while there is still some speculation surrounding the exact release date, Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive have confirmed that GTA 6 will be available in the fall of 2025. Fans can look forward to an exciting marketing campaign and potentially more trailers in the coming months.
