Former Rockstar Games animator Mike York has cast doubt on GTA 6 meeting its November 19 release date, suggesting that another delay could push the highly anticipated title into 2027. In an interview with Indy100, York—who worked on GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 during his five-year tenure at Rockstar—said he 'would not be shocked at all' if the game slipped for a third time. His comments come despite pre-orders being live and Take-Two Interactive's upcoming earnings call on August 7, which many expect to bring a new trailer.
York's Warning Based on GTA 5 Experience
York, now at Seattle-based Highwire Games, drew on his experience with GTA 5, which also faced delays after pre-orders began. 'If November comes around and they're thinking 'this final mission we have is still not looking very good and there are still a few bugs in this final mission', they'll push it six more months if they have to,' he told Indy100. Rockstar has a history of postponing titles for polish: GTA 5 shifted from spring 2013 to September 2013, the PC version was delayed three times, and the PS5/Xbox Series X/S versions moved from November 2021 to March 2022.
York emphasized that Rockstar feels no pressure to meet deadlines, saying, 'They can do whatever they want and people will wait right now, it doesn't matter. If they need to do what they need to do, they'll do it.' He added, 'I don't think it would hurt them or anything.'
Massive Pre-Order Demand Despite Silence
The anticipation for GTA 6 is immense, with pre-order data showing record interest despite a lack of raw gameplay footage. Analysts predict the game could generate $5.2 billion (approximately £3.8 billion) in its first week—nearly half of GTA 5's lifetime revenue. This hype has led other publishers to schedule their biggest releases in September and October to avoid clashing with GTA 6, a strategy that would backfire if the game slips again.
Trailer Hopes for August
Fans are hoping for an update this month, possibly a new trailer, especially with Take-Two's earnings call scheduled for August 7. Insider NateTheHate has expressed confidence that the lack of updates is not a concern, stating, 'I expect to see a fair bit of GTA 6' this month. However, York's warning serves as a reminder that Rockstar's priority is quality, not calendar commitments.
