Conviction is high, the delay is about polish, more is coming
- Zelnick says his conviction in the launch is very high
- The delay is framed as polish, not trouble
- Hype means nothing if the game does not deliver
- A GTA IV remaster and Max Payne remakes are reportedly in the works
A High Level of Conviction
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick is betting big on the date. After the move out of the original 2025 window, he told CNBC his level of conviction is very, very high that the game hits its 2026 launch. Coming from the executive who has to answer to investors, that is about as firm as public language gets.
Rockstar’s Obsession With Perfection
Zelnick described Rockstar’s formula as setting sky-high expectations and then crushing them, but he was careful not to confuse hype with results. As he put it, the studio has to deliver something great and then let players decide just how great it is.
The extra months, he added, are about polish. Rockstar has a long track record of delaying games to make sure they clear the bar, and this is no exception.
More Rockstar Projects Brewing
GTA 6 is the main event, but Zelnick confirmed Rockstar has other games in development. Reports point to a GTA IV remaster, Red Dead Redemption 2 on Switch 2, next-gen RDR2 upgrades for current consoles and Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes with Remedy. Some could arrive before GTA 6 even lands, giving fans plenty to chew on.
Big Sales, Bigger Impact
Even with the delay, analysts still see records falling, with forecasts around 40 million copies in the first year and a later PC release driving a second wave. The lost 2025 forecast stings, but other tentpoles are expected to fill the gap until the main event arrives.