Is Borderlands 4's New Release Date a Secret Hint About GTA 6's Launch Schedule?

When it comes to gaming releases, every schedule shift tends to attract speculation, especially when it involves potential clues about when Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released. The recent announcement that Borderlands 4 will now launch on September 12, instead of its originally planned September 23 date, has stirred up fresh theories about Rockstar Games' much-awaited sequel.

Gearbox confirmed yesterday that Borderlands 4 will arrive nearly two weeks earlier than expected. While this primarily avoids a direct clash with Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon (which is also set to release on September 23), the gaming community has focused on what this might mean for GTA 6's launch timing.

Both Borderlands and GTA are published under Take-Two Interactive's umbrella, making any schedule adjustments potentially significant. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick previously stated that the company "wouldn't, and no one would, stack up huge releases unnecessarily," a comment that seems increasingly relevant with any calendar change.

Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has emphatically denied any connection between the date change and the release windows of other games.

"Borderlands 4 shipping early is 100% the result of confidence in the game and development trajectory backed by actual tasks and bug find/fix rates," Pitchford stated on X (formerly Twitter). "Our decision is literally 0% about any other product's actual or theoretical launch date."

Despite these assured denials, many within the gaming community remain unconvinced, and with good reason. First, Take-Two publishes both franchises and would logically stagger their releases. Second, GTA 6 is currently targeting a fall release, and Take-Two would hope to avoid a potential overlap. Third, PlayStation is expected to be GTA 6's chief marketing partner, and this would give Sony insight into Rockstar's timeline.

The decision to move Borderlands 4 earlier creates a clearer runway for what many suspect could be an October or November GTA 6 launch. As one of the most anticipated games in history, Rockstar's open-world juggernaut will almost certainly overshadow any title releasing in close proximity.

It's worth mentioning that this isn't the only Take-Two game generating release window theories. Mafia: The Old Country's "mid-2025" window also factors into this puzzle, as many fans are wondering if Take-Two is carefully spacing its major releases throughout 2025 to maximize each title's impact.

With Mafia positioned for summer, Borderlands 4 now in early September, and PlayStation's Ghost of Yotei landing on October 2, the pieces seem to be arranging themselves around an unannounced, but increasingly anticipated, late 2025 GTA 6 release.

Though Pitchford's tweet was aimed at quelling any speculation, the detective work conducted by the GTA community cannot be easily stopped. With Borderlands 4 set for a State of Play showcase later today, fans will be watching closely for any additional clues about Take-Two's release strategy.