The gaming world is reeling from the announcement that Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed to November 2026, and the latest GTA 6 delay could have repercussions for a host of other releases.
Rockstar Games announced that GTA 6 would be delayed until November 19, almost six months on from the previously stated May release, extending the long wait for the latest entry in the beloved series.
While gamers around the world are expressing concerns that this still might not be the final release date, developers across the globe will also have to deal with a major reshuffle in the calendar, and it could be Microsoft that is impacted the most.
Fall 2026 Shaping Up To Be Huge With GTA 6 Delay
As pointed out by IGN’s Ryan McCaffrey, Microsoft has some major releases that are likely to drop in the Fall 2026 window, including Halo: Campaign Evolved, which brings the franchise to PlayStation, Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, and the 2026 instalment of Call of Duty.
Though the Fall 2026 window is spread out and has several months to release titles, it’s also one of the busiest periods for gaming with a host of regular annual releases deploying in that period, including the likes of EA Sports’ Madden and EA FC.
Adding GTA 6 to the mix could cause problems, as no developer will want to go head-to-head with one of the biggest gaming releases of all time, as it would almost certainly impact sales.
These issues are not exclusive to Microsoft, however, as PlayStation, Nintendo, and developers across the world will also be tussling with the new calendar.
Marvel’s Wolverine, for example, is slated for launch in late 2026, while it’s widely expected that the tenth generation of Pokémon will debut in Q4 2026 as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations.
How much do you think the delay of Grand Theft Auto 6 will impact other releases? Let us know your thoughts in the Insider Gaming Discord.
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