The wait is finally—and officially—over, at least for console players. Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two Interactive have cemented November 19, 2026, as the global release date for Grand Theft Auto VI on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. This confirmation comes following a crucial earnings call this week, silencing months of speculation regarding further delays into 2027. However, while console owners are marking their calendars, the GTA 6 PC port delay has become the central topic of discussion within the PC gaming community, with new projections suggesting a release window as late as 2028.

Rockstar Confirms November 19, 2026 Launch Date

After a tumultuous development cycle that saw the initial "Fall 2025" window shift to May 2026, and then quietly slip again late last year, Take-Two Interactive has finally drawn a line in the sand. In a definitive update provided to investors this February, the publisher reaffirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI will launch on Thursday, November 19, 2026. The announcement aims to capitalize on the lucrative holiday shopping season, a strategy that has historically paid massive dividends for the franchise.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed "unwavering confidence" in the new date, emphasizing that the extra time was necessary to ensure the game meets the "unmatched" quality standards Rockstar is known for. "We are fully supportive of Rockstar Games taking the additional time to realize their creative vision," the company stated, hinting that the final months of development are being dedicated to polishing the game's ambitious open-world mechanics in the state of Leonida.

The Notable Absence of a PC Version

While the console release date is a relief for millions, the Grand Theft Auto VI PC version remains shrouded in uncertainty. Rockstar's confirmed launch platforms are strictly PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, continuing the studio's long-standing tradition of prioritizing consoles. For PC gamers, this effectively confirms that there will be no day-one release, a reality that has sparked frustration across forums and social media platforms this week.

Historically, Rockstar has treated the PC community as a second wave of customers. Grand Theft Auto V took 19 months to migrate from console to PC, while Red Dead Redemption 2 arrived on PC roughly 13 months after its console debut. If GTA 6 follows the more optimistic timeline of RDR2, a PC port could arrive in late 2027. However, if the optimization challenges are as immense as rumors suggest, a 2028 release is a genuine possibility.

Why the Delay?

Industry insiders point to two main factors for the GTA 6 PC port delay:

  • Optimization for Diverse Hardware: Unlike consoles, which have fixed specifications, the PC ecosystem is fragmented. Ensuring the highly anticipated "Vice City" simulation runs smoothly on a wide range of GPUs requires significant dedicated development time.
  • The "Double-Dip" Strategy: From a business perspective, staggering the release allows Rockstar to maximize sales. Many impatient PC gamers will purchase a console copy in November 2026 to play immediately, only to buy the game again when it eventually launches on PC with enhanced graphical features.

GTA 6 System Requirements Leak & Pricing Rumors

With the release date set, attention is shifting to the hardware needed to run the game. Recent GTA 6 system requirements leak discussions suggest that even the console versions will push the PS5 and Series X to their absolute limits. This has led to speculation that the eventual PC version will demand high-end hardware, likely requiring the equivalent of an NVIDIA RTX 50-series card for optimal performance at 4K resolution.

Furthermore, pricing remains a hot topic. Reports surfacing alongside the release date confirmation suggest a standard edition price point of $99.99 (approx. £89.99), reflecting the reported $1 billion development budget. While Take-Two has not officially commented on the price tag, the industry trend toward higher base prices makes this a plausible, albeit controversial, scenario.

What’s Next for Fans?

With the Rockstar Games November 2026 date locked in, the marketing machine is expected to roar to life this summer. Fans can anticipate a steady stream of character trailers, gameplay deep dives, and perhaps the first official pre-order bonuses. For console players, the countdown has officially begun. For the PC gaming faithful, however, the watch continues, with hopes pinned on a surprise announcement in 2027.