Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, saw a drop in its stock price on Monday following a report that suggested the production of the highly anticipated game “Grand Theft Auto VI” may be falling behind schedule. The stock closed down more than 4% at $146.14 after hitting $152.46 on Friday when Kotaku reported that the game could potentially be delayed from 2025 to 2026. The report mentioned that Rockstar employees were struggling with returning to the office, which may be impacting production.
According to Kotaku, while Rockstar still internally aims to release “GTA VI” in early 2025, some employees fear the game could be pushed back to late 2025 or even 2026. The company had informed employees in February that they would be required to return to the office five days a week starting in April. This decision has been met with resistance from some employees in the video game industry due to its volatility and lack of a centralized workforce. Take-Two’s stock has dropped over 8% since the release of the first “Grand Theft Auto VI” trailer, which set a new record for YouTube’s most-viewed trailer launch.
Analysts have suggested that “GTA VI” could potentially be released in early 2025, based on Take-Two’s financial guidance hinting at a March 2025 launch. The game is highly anticipated as the successor to the extremely successful “GTA V,” which has sold 190 million copies in the last decade and is the third best-selling video game of all time. While Rockstar has not given an official release date for “GTA VI,” the speculation and rumors surrounding its development have been closely watched by fans and investors.
Take-Two Interactive has not commented on the potential delay of “Grand Theft Auto VI” or the impact it may have on the company’s financial outlook. The stock market reaction to the news of a potential delay reflects the importance of this game to both the company and investors. As one of the most anticipated video games in recent years, any setbacks or delays in its production can have a significant impact on Take-Two’s performance. The gaming community will be eagerly awaiting further updates on the release of “GTA VI” and how it may affect the company’s future.
