GTA 6 Delay Not Surprising: Rockstar's History of Postponements

Take a deep breath and remember: Delays are good.

OK, that statement isn’t always true, but it usually is. While delayed projects can sometimes result in subpar outcomes, more often than not, taking additional time leads to superior results. Meticulous attention to detail and the courage to discard ideas that don't pan out are crucial in art. Consider how many times you've played a half-finished game and wished the publisher had delayed its release until it was fully ready. Keep that thought in mind.

GTA 6 is delayed, and that's a positive development because it will likely benefit from the extra time.

Rockstar has a long-standing practice of delaying games to ensure they meet high standards, placing them in the same league as Nintendo, known for releasing only when a game is fully polished. This discipline has consistently resulted in exceptional gaming experiences.

I've been a fan of GTA since its inception, from four-player PC LAN parties to exploring the most obscure titles like London 1969, the stellar GTA V, and the underrated gem, Chinatown Wars for DS. Over the years, I've immersed myself in these vibrant, chaotic worlds, and I'm grateful that these games are often delayed... and always great. Here's a look at every delay in GTA history, including some from Red Dead.

Grand Theft Auto III

Rockstar's New York offices were located just blocks from the World Trade Center, leading Take Two to briefly delay GTA III after the September 11 attacks. Marketing VP Terry Donovan announced the delay shortly after the tragedy:

"Our decision is based on two factors: firstly, it has been challenging to work in downtown Manhattan due to intermittent communications infrastructure, and secondly, we felt a full content review of all our titles and marketing materials was necessary following the horrific events in the United States last week."

He continued: "As for Grand Theft Auto, the game is so extensive that the review process is lengthy. We've identified certain contextual references and gameplay instances that we were no longer comfortable with. We apologize for the delays, but we're confident you'll understand our reasoning. Rest assured, the game will be phenomenal and available on shelves in late October."

Even with minimal changes, the delay was a wise move for both Rockstar and its players, avoiding the release of a game involving violence against emergency services so soon after a national tragedy.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

The shortest delays in the series were shared by Vice City and San Andreas. Before the era of digital downloads and day-one patches, manufacturers had to estimate production quantities. Rockstar delayed Vice City by a week to meet the overwhelming demand for more discs.

San Andreas for PS2 was also released a week later than planned, a strategic move to give the development team additional time to polish their two-year project.

Every Celebrity in GTA: San Andreas

View 37 ImagesGrand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

The GTA handheld games are exceptional, often justifying revisiting your old PlayStation Portable or DS. While most arrived on time, Vice City Stories for PSP was delayed for two weeks in North America and longer in parts of Europe.

The best GTA game, in my opinion (feel free to disagree!), didn't meet its initial release date. The innovative and intricate DS title, Chinatown Wars, hit shelves two months later than anticipated. Upon release, it received widespread acclaim, though its commercial performance was disappointing. Had it sold better, we might be enjoying Chinatown Wars 3 on the latest consoles.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Following the groundbreaking success of GTA III, anticipation for GTA IV was immense. With the shift to a new console generation and the abandonment of RenderWare, Rockstar Leeds aimed high. Achieving their vision required several months of delay.

As Rockstar’s Sam Hause explained, “The new consoles [PS3 and 360] are enabling us to create the Grand Theft Auto game we've always dreamed of. Every aspect of the game has been transformed. It's pushing the hardware to its limits, with top engineers from Sony and Microsoft working closely with our team in Edinburgh. Our goal is to exceed the expectations of our fans and deliver the ultimate high-definition gaming experience."

Grand Theft Auto V

The biggest console game ever took its time. Originally slated for a spring 2013 release, GTA V eventually launched in September. In late January 2013, Rockstar released a statement:

"We know this is about four months later than originally planned, and we're aware that this delay might disappoint many of you. However, it will be worth the extra time. GTAV is a highly ambitious and complex game that needs a bit more polish to meet the standards we, and more importantly, you require. To all Grand Theft Auto fans, please accept our apologies for the delay, and our promise that the entire team is working hard to make the game exceptional. We're doing all we can to ensure it meets, if not exceeds, your expectations come September. Thank you for your support and patience."

Their promise was fulfilled. GTA V became the most successful console game ever and, alongside RDR2, remains a crown jewel in Rockstar's portfolio.

Red Dead Redemption 2

While not part of the GTA series, Red Dead Redemption 2 is Rockstar's masterpiece, and I can't help but mention it. In line with their tradition of quality-driven delays, RDR2 was postponed twice: first in spring 2017 for quality assurance, and again in February 2018, shifting the release to late October. Rockstar's statement explained that these delays were to ensure quality.

"We are excited to announce that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released on October 26th, 2018. We apologize to everyone disappointed by this delay. While we had hoped to release the game sooner, we need a little extra time for polish.

We sincerely thank you for your patience and hope that when you play the game, you'll agree the wait was worth it. In the meantime, please check out these screenshots from the game. We look forward to sharing more information with you in the coming weeks."

Like all the other delays mentioned, this one paid off, delivering an unparalleled adventure gaming experience.

So, don't despair. GTA 6 will arrive, and when it does, it will almost certainly be exceptional. See you in Vice City.