2026 — The Year of GTA 6?
today at 13:53
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02026 promises to be the year of GTA 6. If the game isn’t delayed for a third time, then over the next 10 months we’ll learn quite a lot about the future blockbuster. How might events unfold?
In previous years, Rockstar Games thanked fans (one, two) and even announced “the next Grand Theft Auto”. However, traditions like releasing new screenshots at Christmas have now been broken. With GTA VI, the company is taking a different approach — one defined by long periods of silence. The main, if not the only, reason is that players and the media generate more than enough noise on their own. The hype is so intense that developers can work on the project for years without anyone forgetting about it.
Almost anything could be released at this stage: a third trailer, the cover art, or new screenshots (though there are already plenty — a full 70 of them). There’s no need to drop everything at once like last year. One option is to stretch out the excitement — for example, reveal the box art while plastering it everywhere in the real world. Then, later on, release Trailer 3, perhaps timed with the start of pre-orders. That event would not only reveal the price of the game, but also the contents of the collector’s and other editions.
Continuing to promote the “summer game” during the summer itself seems more than appropriate.
By November 19, special bundles will hit stores, including a PS5 or PS5 Pro and a copy of GTA 6. If, by some miracle, they aren’t sold out in the first few days, then a week later — during Black Friday — any strategic reserves of these bundles will definitely be wiped out.
Toward the end of the year, during the holidays, people are far more inclined to spend money — including on new consoles, video games, and in-game purchases.
January – February
The first month of the year is usually the calmest one — a time when major announcements, showcases, and releases are rare. February is much the same, with one small exception: on February 3, Take-Two will publish its next quarterly financial report. There’s no real reason to expect any fresh information from it. Even if another postponement were to happen (which we don’t really believe), it would still be far too early to announce it. The last one was accompanied by this news, so no — not this time.In previous years, Rockstar Games thanked fans (one, two) and even announced “the next Grand Theft Auto”. However, traditions like releasing new screenshots at Christmas have now been broken. With GTA VI, the company is taking a different approach — one defined by long periods of silence. The main, if not the only, reason is that players and the media generate more than enough noise on their own. The hype is so intense that developers can work on the project for years without anyone forgetting about it.
Spring – Summer
In March and April, we’ll be busy playing GTA Online, and we’ll start thinking seriously about closer to May — ahead of the next financial report from the rights holder. Potentially, this is when the marketing campaign could begin, roughly six months before release. And not just online, but offline as well — with billboards and bus ads all over the world. The release of the most anticipated video game in history will need to be advertised even to those who don’t spend much time on social media or YouTube. So no matter how loud the buzz is on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Reddit, and other virtual spaces, traditional promotion won’t be ignored.Almost anything could be released at this stage: a third trailer, the cover art, or new screenshots (though there are already plenty — a full 70 of them). There’s no need to drop everything at once like last year. One option is to stretch out the excitement — for example, reveal the box art while plastering it everywhere in the real world. Then, later on, release Trailer 3, perhaps timed with the start of pre-orders. That event would not only reveal the price of the game, but also the contents of the collector’s and other editions.
Continuing to promote the “summer game” during the summer itself seems more than appropriate.
Fall
Still, the hottest period will undoubtedly be the fall. This is when we should expect even more information after the official website is updated. November, in particular, will be that kind of time people later describe with the phrase “You just had to be there”. The release trailer will be just the cherry on top. The mandatory program includes a flood of previews and reviews, savoring every little detail. There will be some in the gaming community who end up disappointed, but we’re confident the charts will be obliterated, sales records shattered, and video game rating benchmarks reconsidered.By November 19, special bundles will hit stores, including a PS5 or PS5 Pro and a copy of GTA 6. If, by some miracle, they aren’t sold out in the first few days, then a week later — during Black Friday — any strategic reserves of these bundles will definitely be wiped out.
December
One of the most interesting topics for discussion is the launch date of the new Online. Based on previous experience, there should be a gap between the story mode and multiplayer. And not two weeks, as was the case with GTA 5, but longer — because the new installment is many times bigger and more ambitious than its predecessor. Completing and exploring it will take a lot of time.Toward the end of the year, during the holidays, people are far more inclined to spend money — including on new consoles, video games, and in-game purchases.