To no one's surprise, Rockstar Games' decision to delay Grand Theft Auto 6 by six months is affecting everything from competitor release schedules to publisher strategies for 2026, just like what happened earlier this year with Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei , and The Outer Worlds 2, among others. Now, one analyst believes that GTA 6's delay impact extends beyond just competing software: it could actually influence when Sony and Microsoft launch their next-generation consoles.
The implication comes from Piers Harding-Rolls, research director of games at Ampere Analysis, in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz. While Harding-Rolls hasn't definitively predicted a delay to next-generation hardware, his thought experiment suggests that Sony and Microsoft would have wanted a much earlier release than late 2026, so they could generate momentum earlier in the cycle, given how important games are for driving hardware sales.
True enough, PlayStation's ability to secure the exclusivity of Grand Theft Auto III is widely credited with helping make the PlayStation 2 the best-selling video game console of all time. So, when a game carries as much influence as GTA 6 does, its release timing becomes an important consideration for the platform holders whose business models depend on maintaining healthy install bases.
As Harding-Rolls noted:
The delay will have a significant impact on console sales dynamics in 2026. Console sales will be even more back loaded in 2026 than is normal. Generally, in terms of launch timing and generating the most console sales, I think a release in Q4 is better than in Q2 due to the gifting season dynamic, so there is a silver lining to an extent.
However, other analysts aren't convinced the GTA 6 delay will actually influence next-gen console timing. George Jijiashvili, senior principal analyst at Omdia, questioned what Sony would actually gain by delaying PS6. Rhys Elliott, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics, shared similar skepticism about a causal relationship between the game delay and hardware launches.
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The current console generation is unique in the sense that people have been slow to adapt to it due to multiple reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic created supply chain disruptions that made hardware difficult to obtain during the crucial launch period. Economic uncertainty and higher console prices have made consumers more cautious about purchases, and many major releases continue supporting previous-generation hardware, reducing the need to upgrade.
The release of GTA 6 is expected to change this, just as its delay will reportedly set the gaming industry back to pre-pandemic levels. However, GTA 6 will eventually receive next-generation versions whenever the PS6 and next Xbox arrive.
Players who buy into the current generation for GTA 6 in 2026 will have upgrade paths when new hardware launches. The game's longevity means it will continue to sell and engage players across multiple console generations and on PC. This would work similarly to how Grand Theft Auto 5 has multiple editions, namely Grand Theft Auto V: Enhanced Edition , Grand Theft Auto V: Expanded and Enhanced, and Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced . Not confusing at all!
While the delay to the next generation of consoles is doubtful, what we can't deny is that other publishers are once again adjusting their release schedules to avoid direct competition with GTA 6. The publishers that had releases planned for May 2026 around GTA 6's original date can breathe more easily, having gained unexpected breathing room. Conversely, those targeting Fall 2026 now face fiercer competition than they anticipated when initially setting their schedules.
Fingers crossed that this will be the last delay for GTA 6!
