At least three major publishers have postponed the releases of their upcoming games because they are not ready to compete with GTA 6
The expected release of Grand Theft Auto 6 at the end of 2025 is forcing leading publishers to reconsider their game release schedules. Several companies plan to postpone releases to avoid competition with the mega-project of Rockstar Games.
Here's What We Know
The head of one of the largest gaming companies (not specified) noted that Rockstar games always absorb a significant part of players' attention and funds. Therefore, they do not want to release their projects in the same period and are considering different options for release planning.
Another senior official added that even without GTA, it is difficult to find free time to launch new games, as the main constraint is players' time, not money.
Earlier, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson suggested that the big Battlefield relaunch might be postponed due to "some events that may force us to reconsider the launch time". This indicates that even large franchises are cautious about choosing a release date so as not to compete with GTA 6.
In addition, developers of popular game services are also planning to avoid major updates during the launch of GTA 6. One studio executive compared the release of GTA 6 to a "big meteorite" and noted that they plan to move their releases three weeks forward or back to avoid the "blast zone".
The uncertainty about the exact release date of GTA 6 makes it difficult for other companies to plan. If Rockstar decides to postpone the release, it may cause further changes in the release schedules of other games. Publishers are forced to prepare several scenarios to adapt to potential changes.
In total, The Game Business reported three major companies that have postponed releases because of GTA 6.
Source: The Game Business
