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GTA 6 delay cost revealed as games industry set to lose staggering amount

Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed to May 2026, and it could cause a huge drop in anticipated spending in the games industry, rising to more than $2.5 billion dollars

[This handout courtesy of Rockstar Games taken on December 4, 2023 shows a video grab of the trailer of "Grand Theft Auto 6" video game. The first trailer for "Grand Theft Auto VI" was officially released ahead of schedule December 4, 2023 due to a leak, touting a 2025 release for the next chapter of the massively successful video game franchise. (Photo by Rockstar Games / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Rockstar Games" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by -/Rockstar Games/AFP via Getty Images)]

Fans have been crying out for a return to Vice City(Image: Rockstar Games/AFP via Getty Ima)

GTA 6 was recently delayed to May 2026, meaning we're now around a year away from the most anticipated game in history.

While it had been tipped to 'save' the video games industry, the cost of its delay could be colossal for the video game industry, according to a new report from Ampere Analysis (via Gamespot).

With Grand Theft Auto 6 reportedly having been in development for years, publishers had been keeping release dates close to their chest until they knew what Rockstar was planning.

While those same rivals will breathe a sigh of relief for their 2025 plans, the fallout of the delay could have huge ramifications.

GTA 6 delay may have cost video game industry $2.7 billion

[GTA 6 Trailer 2 examined: All the details we spotted]

We now know so much more about GTA6 and the people in it(Image: Rockstar)

Ampere's data suggests that Grand Theft Auto 6 being nudged to 2026 would mean a big drop in console sales for casual games eager to check out Rockstar's epic, with Sony reportedly nabbing the marketing rights to the huge title.

Ampere dubbed 2025's Holiday period a "vacuum" without GTA 6, and suggested that Nintendo could be poised to capitalise with its Switch 2 launching in June and likely gaining momentum until the end of the year.

Given GTA 6 is expected to rack up billions in revenue when it does learn, the hope will be that it'll raise the profile of the games industry again, which has been through thousands of layoffs in recent years following a spike in popularity during the COVID pandemic.

Ampere suggests the industry will grow by around 1% in 2025, but that's likely to hit 2.2% in 2026 thanks to GTA 6. The company's Piers Harding-Rolls said a lack of new monetisation strategies or meaningful tech advances means the industry is "looking for pockets of growth to exploit and to build content more efficiently and at lower cost."

At the time of the delay, Rockstar's statement said: "We are very sorry this is later than you expected."

"The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game."

"With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve."

For more on GTA 6, check out how fans have put together an incredible interactive map with more than 100 locations.

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