Rockstar Games Finally Unveils Grand Theft Auto VI—Watch the New Trailer and Discover the Release Window & Gameplay Leaks

Rockstar Games has officially locked in November 19, 2026 as the global release date for Grand Theft Auto VI, ending months of speculation about another potential slip for the decade-in-the-making blockbuster. The publisher says the game will launch first on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a PC version to follow, mirroring its staggered rollout strategy from GTA V. GTA VI will return players to a modernized Vice City, a neon-drenched open world inspired by Miami that is said to be “the most immersive and reactive urban sandbox ever coded” according to internal Rockstar marketing briefs leaked earlier this year. Those same documents reference dual protagonists—Lucía and Jason—whose crime-spree narrative can be experienced either solo or in seamless co-op. Long-rumored gameplay innovations such as fully destructible interiors, dynamic weather that floods low-lying streets, and an upgraded police AI that adapts to player tactics are all expected to debut alongside Rockstar’s proprietary Rage 10 engine. The studio’s timing is strategic: by late 2026 Sony’s rumored PS5 Pro and Microsoft’s mid-cycle “Project Brooklin” refresh should be on shelves, giving GTA VI the hardware headroom to push its ambitious technical agenda. Analysts at Ampere Analysis estimate that next-gen install bases will exceed 85 million by launch, comfortably dwarfing the 2013 install base GTA V enjoyed on day one. Marketing momentum is already building. A teaser image posted to Rockstar’s social channels in late November surged past 100 million impressions within 48 hours, hinting at a full cinematic trailer expected around The Game Awards next week. Pre-orders are tipped to open immediately afterward, with three editions—Standard, Special, and the $149.99 “Vice City Edition” that reportedly bundles early access to GTA Online 2 and exclusive in-game property. Behind the scenes, however, production turbulence lingers. Variety reports that continuing work-from-home concessions for the 2,000-strong dev team were a sticking point during the most recent delay from May to November 2026. Still, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has assured investors that the new schedule is “rock-solid,” projecting first-year shipments north of 25 million units and lifetime sales that could eclipse the 190-million benchmark set by its predecessor. For franchise veterans and newcomers alike, the message is clear: now is the time to clear hard-drive space, upgrade GPUs, and brace for what might be the most technically advanced entry in open-world gaming history. Search interest in “GTA 6 release date,” “GTA VI Vice City map,” and “Grand Theft Auto VI trailer” is spiking, and with only 11 months to go, the long wait for the next crime epic is finally entering its endgame.