Series data
13 years between GTA V and GTA VI — the longest gap in series history.
Every mainline Grand Theft Auto game from GTA III (2001) to GTA VI (2026): release dates, launch platforms, Metacritic scores, and why the wait for GTA 6 has been so unusually long.
Release timeline
Grand Theft Auto III
2001-10-22 · PlayStation 2
Main 3D-era breakthrough
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
2002-10-27 · PlayStation 2
Vice City setting
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
2004-10-26 · PlayStation 2
Large open world
Grand Theft Auto Advance spinoff
2004-10-26 · Game Boy Advance
Top-down handheld spinoff
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories spinoff
2005-10-25 · PlayStation Portable
PSP spinoff set in Liberty City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories spinoff
2006-10-31 · PlayStation Portable
PSP spinoff set in Vice City
Grand Theft Auto IV
2008-04-29 · PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
HD-era launch
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars spinoff
2009-03-17 · Nintendo DS
Top-down handheld spinoff
Grand Theft Auto V
2013-09-17 · PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Long-running GTA Online ecosystem
Grand Theft Auto VI
2026-11-19 · PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Upcoming
Gap chart
Years between mainline releases
| Game | Type | Release date | Initial platforms | Metacritic | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto III | Mainline | 2001-10-22 | PlayStation 2 | 97 | Main 3D-era breakthrough |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | Mainline | 2002-10-27 | PlayStation 2 | 95 | Vice City setting |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Mainline | 2004-10-26 | PlayStation 2 | 95 | Large open world |
| Grand Theft Auto Advance | Spinoff | 2004-10-26 | Game Boy Advance | 68 | Top-down handheld spinoff |
| Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories | Spinoff | 2005-10-25 | PlayStation Portable | 88 | PSP spinoff set in Liberty City |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories | Spinoff | 2006-10-31 | PlayStation Portable | 86 | PSP spinoff set in Vice City |
| Grand Theft Auto IV | Mainline | 2008-04-29 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | 98 | HD-era launch |
| Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars | Spinoff | 2009-03-17 | Nintendo DS | 93 | Top-down handheld spinoff |
| Grand Theft Auto V | Mainline | 2013-09-17 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | 97 | Long-running GTA Online ecosystem |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | Mainline | 2026-11-19 | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S | Not released | Upcoming |
GTA 6 development timeline
From announcement to launch: the GTA 6 timeline.
Rockstar confirms GTA 6 is in development
In February 2022, Rockstar casually confirmed that the next Grand Theft Auto was in active development. No details, no trailer, no date — just a brief mention in a GTA Online update post.
Massive leak followed by Trailer 1
In September 2022, a major leak exposed early GTA 6 footage. Rockstar acknowledged it and continued development. In December 2023, Trailer 1 was released — confirming Vice City setting, dual protagonists, and a Fall 2025 window. It broke YouTube records with 90+ million views in 24 hours.
Delay to November 2026
Rockstar announced a delay from Fall 2025 to November 19, 2026. The extra time is expected to be used for polish, optimization and ensuring the game meets the extremely high expectations set by GTA V's success.
Launch year — what to expect
Expect Trailer 2 / gameplay reveal in Summer 2026, pre-orders opening around August–September, and the game launching November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Use the countdown to track the time remaining.
Series context
Why the GTA V to GTA VI gap matters.
The longest wait in series history. The gap between GTA V (September 2013) and GTA VI (November 2026) is approximately 13 years. Previous gaps were much shorter: GTA III to Vice City was 1 year, Vice City to San Andreas was 2 years, San Andreas to GTA IV was 4 years, and GTA IV to GTA V was 5 years.
GTA Online changed everything. GTA V's online component has generated billions in revenue through microtransactions. This ongoing success reduced the urgency to release a sequel and gave Rockstar more time to develop GTA 6.
Development scope expanded. GTA 6 is expected to be the most ambitious open-world game ever made. The Vice City / Leonida setting, dual protagonists, and expected improvements to AI, physics and world detail all require significantly more development time than previous entries.
Platform generation shift. GTA V launched on PS3/Xbox 360, then was re-released on PS4/Xbox One, then PS5/Xbox Series. GTA 6 skips last-gen entirely, launching only on current-gen consoles. This allows for higher fidelity but limits the initial audience.
Release gaps
How long between each GTA game?
III → VC
1 year
2001 → 2002
VC → SA
2 years
2002 → 2004
SA → IV
4 years
2004 → 2008
IV → V
5 years
2008 → 2013
V → VI
13 years
2013 → 2026
GTA 6 vs GTA V
How does GTA 6 compare to GTA V?
| Feature | GTA V (2013) | GTA VI (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | September 17, 2013 | November 19, 2026 |
| Launch platforms | PS3, Xbox 360 | PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Launch price | $59.99 | TBA (expected $69.99+) |
| PC release | April 2015 (19 months later) | Not announced |
| Setting | Los Santos (Los Angeles) | Vice City (Miami) |
| Protagonists | 3 (Michael, Trevor, Franklin) | 2 (Lucia + partner) |
| Metacritic | 97/100 | TBD |
| Online component | GTA Online (launched Oct 2013) | Expected but not confirmed |
Related pages
More GTA 6 tracking pages.
Live countdown
Days, hours, minutes until GTA 6 launches.
Release date
Official date, delay history, unlock timing.
Price tracker
Regional pricing, editions, historical context.
Pre-order status
Store-by-store pre-order availability.
Platforms
PS5, Xbox, PC status and release history.
Map
Vice City, Leonida, regions from Trailer 1.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about GTA 6
+When is GTA 6 coming out?
GTA 6 launches November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. This is the official release date confirmed by Rockstar Games. The date was set after a delay from the originally expected Fall 2025 window.
+Has GTA 6 been delayed?
Yes. GTA 6 was originally targeting Fall 2025 but was delayed to November 19, 2026. Rockstar cited the need for additional development time. As of now, no further delays have been announced.
+How much will GTA 6 cost?
The official GTA 6 price has not been announced. Standard AAA games currently launch at $69.99, and most analysts expect GTA 6 to follow this pricing for the standard edition. Premium editions could cost $99.99–$119.99. The $100 standard edition rumor has no official backing. See the price tracker for regional estimates.
+Can I pre-order GTA 6?
Pre-orders are not officially live yet. PS Store and Xbox Store support wishlisting, but wishlist is not the same as a pre-order — it does not reserve a copy or charge your payment method. Based on Rockstar's history, pre-orders typically open 2–4 months before launch, so expect news around August–September 2026. Track pre-order status by store.