Rockstar games announces release date for GTA VI

Tallahassee (Web Desk): GTA VI, the eighth main installment in the blockbuster franchise, is set to be released on November 19 following two delays. The highly anticipated title will arrive more than 13 years after the launch of GTA V, which remains the second best-selling video game in history.

Developer Rockstar Games, owned by New York-based Take-Two Interactive, confirmed the release date in a post on X, adding that pre-orders will open across digital platforms and selected retail outlets.

Pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI will officially begin on June 25 on digital storefronts and at other select retailers.

Check out the official cover art, also available as downloadable artwork at https://t.co/XPwC8URCQ4 pic.twitter.com/pRVXk4eyDQ

— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) June 18, 2026

The company also unveiled the official cover art for the game, though pricing details were not disclosed. However, analysts expect the base price to be around $80, citing recent remarks by Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick and industry projections.

Known for its controversial depiction of violence and crime, the Grand Theft Auto franchise allows players to engage in criminal roleplay across expansive open-world environments, a format it has maintained since its debut in 1997.

The upcoming title was initially scheduled for a 2025 release and is expected to be set in a Vice City-inspired location resembling Miami. It will also introduce a playable female protagonist for the first time in the series.

While critics have long accused the franchise of promoting violence and criminal behavior, Take-Two Interactive has consistently rejected these claims.

Gameplay typically involves activities such as theft, drug dealing, car chases, and other criminal missions, along with optional interactions that have drawn criticism from advocacy groups.