Game publishers adjust launch plans to avoid Grand Theft Auto VI

LOS ANGELES: Video game publishers are revising their release calendars to avoid a direct clash with Grand Theft Auto VI, as a packed autumn schedule for major titles begins to take shape, industry figures speaking at the annual Summer Games Fest said.

Rockstar Games’ next Grand Theft Auto title is scheduled for release on November 19 after two delays. It will be the eighth main instalment in the series and will arrive more than 13 years after Grand Theft Auto V, described as the second best-selling video game in history.

Publishers are largely moving away from the closing months of 2026, a period usually seen as a strong sales window, because of expectations that GTA VI will dominate the market. The game is widely viewed as likely to be the year’s biggest release and potentially the largest launch in entertainment history.

Autumn release calendar takes shape

Among the titles expected in September are Wolverine, Silent Hill: Townfall and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, while Star Wars Zero Company is due on August 27. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to be released on October 23, placing it only a few weeks ahead of GTA VI.

Christopher Dring, founder of specialist outlet The Game Business, said that timing is seen as close to the limit for avoiding a direct hit from Rockstar’s launch. "That window is frequently cited as the latest you can release a game and not get sucked into that Rockstar black hole."

Ampere Analysis said GTA VI would command attention for an extended period after release.

Major announcements at Summer Games Fest

The Summer Games Fest in Los Angeles, hosted by Geoff Keighley after presentations led by Sony and ahead of Microsoft’s showcase, featured dozens of upcoming projects. One of the major titles announced on Friday was Final Fantasy VII Revelation, which is due in spring 2027.

A remake of Resident Evil: Code Veronica, originally released in 2000, is also planned for 2027 under the title Resident Evil Veronica, continuing the industry’s dependence on established franchises.

The event also featured new projects including 1666 Amsterdam by Assassin’s Creed creator Patrice Desilets and Gen Atlas from Japanese designer Fumito Ueda.

Long development cycle for GTA VI

Rockstar Games began preliminary work on Grand Theft Auto VI in 2014, after the release of Grand Theft Auto V. Early development began in late 2018 following Red Dead Redemption 2, while principal production started in 2020 under the codename Project Americas.

Jason Schreier said the game was planned as a moderately sized release that would expand over time in an effort to avoid the developer crunch associated with earlier Rockstar titles. He also reported that the game would include two protagonists inspired by Bonnie and Clyde, including a Latina character, along with a significant online mode similar to Grand Theft Auto Online.