FAQ: Take-Two CEO Eases GTA 6 Delay Fears, Says 'A Lot of People Will Be Calling In Sick on November 19'

When is GTA 6 officially scheduled to launch?

Rockstar Games and Take-Two have confirmed November 19, 2026 as the current release date for Grand Theft Auto VI.

What did Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick say at the Interactive Innovation Conference?

Zelnick said he expects "a lot of people will be calling in sick on November 19" when GTA 6 launches, and reaffirmed the company's goal of creating "the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth."

Will GTA 6 be delayed again?

While Rockstar has delayed the game before, Take-Two's CEO comments suggest the November 19, 2026 date is firm. The company is expected to begin its full marketing push this summer.

Why do major game releases cause people to call in sick?

Historical precedent shows that record-breaking game launches drive absenteeism as employees take time off or call in sick to play. Dragon Quest games in Japan were famously released on Saturdays to reduce school truancy, illustrating how seriously this phenomenon is taken.