Publishers have been forced to reconsider their launch schedules due to Grand Theft Auto 6 not having a set release date. The publishers revealed having unfinalized release strategies due to the fear of releasing their games close to GTA 6’s launch which would negatively impact their sales and visibility.
Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is the eighth main release in the Grand Theft Auto franchise which is globally renowned for shaping pop culture. While the open-world, role-player game has repeatedly revolutionalized gaming, it has also caused problems for other game developers and publishers in 2025.
Publishers air their concerns over GTA 6’s release timing
Here we go. Game publishers and live-service developers plan to flee GTA 6 this Christmas, but what does the data say? https://t.co/46UMM59uxL
— Christopher Dring (@Chris_Dring) March 25, 2025
An industry report revealed that multiple major game publishers have decided to rework their release schedule to avoid clashing with GTA 6’s much-anticipated launch in late 2025. According to journalist Christopher Dring, several key industry players have expressed their concern about the impact Rockstar’s highly anticipated title will have on other releases.
Dring revealed the decision taken by many industry players while speaking on the recently launched The Game Business podcast on March 26, 2025.
Dring stated that industry players expressed concerns that launching a game too close to GTA 6 could result in a significant drop in visibility and player engagement. According to Dring, one European gaming executive discussed the difficulties of navigating the fall release schedule by saying, “We don’t want to launch just before or just after the game. If it arrives in late October, that means you either have to launch early, which a lot of people seem to be doing with the recent glut of summer release dates, or go later, putting you up against the Black Friday sales.”
The podcast also revealed that the uncertainty surrounding Rockstar’s official announcement is adding to the stress for publishers attempting to finalize their plans. Previously, EA’s Andrew Wilson acknowledged that the company might push back the next Battlefield title to get a more favorable release window.
Many other publishers have mirrored the approach with many planning for early summer launches to avoid GTA 6’s potential late-year debut. Another game publisher executive said that “Rockstar games always suck a lot of money and, more importantly, time out of the market. We don’t want to be anywhere near that.”
Dring’s podcast stated that the wariness was also extended to other major live-service games. Major live-service game developers have also adjusted their release schedules to ensure their content release schedules avoid direct competition with Rockstar’s title. One such studio referred to GTA 6 as a “meteor” that would make them shift major updates by several weeks to avoid the game’s launch window. However, Dring also voiced concerns about congestion after many studios pushed their content to the “safe zone” before and after GTA 6 was released.
Gamers react to publisher adjustment as GTA 6’s launch draws near
Gamers went online to express their opinions after the first episode of the The Game Business podcast was posted. Some gamers said that the decisions made by publishers to postpone or drop games earlier than intended came as a surprise to them. The gamers stated that they had expected the publishers to position themselves in a manner that would allow them to capitalize on GTA’s halo effect, which is expected to also boost console sales.
However, some gamers held a contrary opinion and agreed with the decisions taken by gaming companies. Some gamers said that the decisions made were sound due to the fact that GTA 6 would dominate everything when it is released. The gamers added that Rockstar Games should be considerate of other companies and at least provide them with a release date to work with.
Some gamers added that the workarounds enacted by live-service game developers were hilarious and confirmed the game’s status as a “meteor that will hit the gaming landscape hard.”
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