Take-Two Interactive said Thursday it expects to launch “Grand Theft Auto VI” on Nov. 19 next year, in the latest delay for the gaming industry’s most anticipated title after the blockbuster success of its predecessor.
Shares of the company, which had previously said it would launch the title on May 26, fell more than 7% in extended trading.
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This marks the second delay for the game – which was initially set to release this year – and will further disappoint millions of fans who have waited more than a decade for the next installment in the best-selling franchise.
“We apologize for adding extra time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these additional months will allow us to complete the game at the level you expect and deserve,” developers Rockstar Games said.
“GTA VI” is expected to be a major catalyst that could spur console and hardware upgrades, boosting the growth of the video game industry at a time when gamers are becoming picky with titles and prefer to stick to proven franchises.
“It’s important to take the right amount of time to develop and perfect the game, because generally rushed, flawed games often never recover or reach sales potential,” said DA Davidson & Co. analyst Wyatt Swanson.
Analysts expect the game to generate billions in sales in the first few weeks after launch.
“GTA VI” will be released 13 years after “Grand Theft Auto V” took the industry by storm with its cutting-edge graphics, gameplay mechanics and realistic environments, making it one of the most profitable video games ever.
Take-Two also increased its forecast for annual bookings to between $6.40 billion and $6.50 billion, up from its previous forecast of between $6.05 billion and $6.15 billion, thanks to strong spending on its mobile and premium titles.
