Grand Theft Auto VI Slated for Fall 2025 Launch
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has confirmed that the highly anticipated title, Grand Theft Auto VI, is set for release in fall 2025. The announcement was made during the company's earnings report for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2024, where it was also revealed that Take-Two suffered a significant loss of $2.9 billion for the period from January 1 to March 31. The loss was attributed to a combination of goodwill impairment, restructuring charges, and acquisition-related expenses, including a notable $304.3 million hit.
Despite the financial setback, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has stated that he does not foresee further cuts and is optimistic about the company's growth in the coming fiscal years, particularly with the launch of GTA VI. Zelnick also addressed the success of recent cost-reduction programs and the projected impact of the game's release on the company's performance. In addition, the company anticipates significant sequential growth in fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027.
The setting for GTA VI is confirmed to be in the modern-day fictional version of Florida, named Leonida. It will be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms. The release timing was adjusted from a broader 2025 window to the specific fall of that year, and this update comes amidst internal challenges, including a policy requiring most Rockstar staff to return to the office for the final stages of the game's development. Some employees have voiced concerns that this mandate could negatively impact their livelihoods.
The earnings report also highlighted the ongoing success of Grand Theft Auto V, which sold an additional 5 million units in the fourth quarter, and a growing audience for GTA Online. Take-Two also mentioned the promising performance of its subsidiary Zynga and the anticipated acquisition of Gearbox, the developer behind the "Borderlands" series. Notably, voice actor Troy Baker will not be voicing the male lead in the upcoming game.
