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Take-Two CEO Addresses GTA 6 Release Date Again — Stock Jumps $1B After Hack
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has once again addressed the question of GTA 6's release date, this time at the iicon conference in Las Vegas, amid a leak that temporarily boosted the company's market valuation by over $1 billion.
Key update
When will Grand Theft Auto 6 come out? This question is the one being asked by gamers, fans, and even other developers and publishers. November 19 is supposed to be the date, and Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has given an updated comment on it at the iicon conference in Las Vegas.
Why it matters
Zelnick's appearance at iicon came just days after a significant security breach at Take-Two, in which hackers claimed to have obtained and leaked early footage and internal documents from GTA 6. The incident briefly sent Take-Two Interactive's stock value surging by over $1 billion as investors reacted to the unexpected glimpse of the highly anticipated game.
What to watch
Despite the disruption, Zelnick appeared composed during his conference appearance, fielding questions about GTA 6's trajectory with his characteristic optimism. 'I think a lot of people will be calling in sick on November 19,' he joked — a line that quickly circulated across gaming media as a signal of his confidence in the release date.
Context
Would Zelnick make light of the situation if he genuinely believed the date was at risk? It would be a damaging statement for Take-Two and Rockstar Games to make if another delay were imminent, and the market reaction to the hack suggests that the appetite for GTA 6 remains exceptionally strong.
Bottom line
The iicon appearance also saw Zelnick touch on the future of Rockstar's legacy catalogue. When pressed on whether a L.A. Noire sequel could be on the horizon — a title that shares GTA 6's open-world ambitions and historical New Orleans setting — he left the door firmly open. 'We never say never,' Zelnick noted, though he stopped short of confirming any active development.
Update 6
With Take-Two's stock recovering from the leak-driven spike, and the November 19 window looking increasingly solid, all eyes are now on Rockstar Games for what comes next. Trailer 3 continues to be anticipated as the next official piece of marketing material, with fans watching closely for any signs of an imminent announcement.
Update 7
The combination of Zelnick's continued public confidence, the market's enthusiastic response to even leaked material, and the absence of any credible delay rumors suggest that GTA 6 remains firmly on track for its November 2026 launch.