The announcement of Grand Theft Auto VI’s latest delay has left fans reeling. After years of anticipation, Rockstar Games has confirmed that the title will now arrive in November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S six months later than its previous target. But for PC gamers, the bad news doesn’t end there. If history repeats itself, the PC edition could be much farther off.
Another Setback in a Long Wait
The developer quietly updated the official GTA 6 website to reflect the new date shortly after the delay was announced. The adjustment immediately reignited speculation about how long it might take for a PC version to follow. Rockstar has not officially confirmed a PC release, but given the studio’s long-standing business strategy, one is inevitable. The only question is when.
Unfortunately, Rockstar’s history gives a clear pattern: PC players always wait the longest. With console launches now pushed back, the clock for PC starts even later.
Rockstar’s Track Record with PC Ports
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has often said that Rockstar prefers to release in phases, beginning with select platforms before expanding. “Historically, Rockstar has started with some platforms and then moved to others,” he remarked earlier this year. He also noted that PC has become “a much more important part” of the company’s business model a statement that offers optimism, but not speed.
History provides a roadmap. Grand Theft Auto V launched in September 2013 for PS3 and Xbox 360, then came to newer consoles in November 2014, and finally arrived on PC in April 2015 — an 18-month gap. Red Dead Redemption 2 took a little less time: released in October 2018 for PS4 and Xbox One, it reached PC roughly a year later, in November 2019. The first Red Dead Redemption didn’t hit PC until October 2024 fourteen years after its console debut.
Why PC Still Waits
So why is GTA 6 not launching on PC alongside consoles? Rockstar has never been explicit, but former developer Mike York shed light on the process. According to him, the PC build typically supports and stabilises console development. “There’s always a PC version of the game,” he explained, “but it’s not polished it’s the version feeding the other games.” In other words, PC development exists in parallel, not as a priority.
That approach lets Rockstar focus on core platforms first, ensuring technical consistency before opening the floodgates to PC’s variable hardware landscape. It’s a business and creative decision: fewer launch issues, smoother optimisation, and a stronger initial sales push.
What Comes Next
Even with frustration mounting, the outlook for a PC version remains strong. The platform’s importance to Take-Two’s financial ecosystem means it’s not being ignored merely postponed. When it does arrive, it’s likely to feature enhanced visuals, expanded modding support and upgraded performance, just as GTA V’s PC release did years ago.
In the meantime, Rockstar is rumoured to be juggling several projects including Red Dead Redemption 2 ports for modern consoles and a GTA 4 remaster. Those may arrive before GTA 6 even hits PC, but the wait, as always, will end in profit and polish. Patience, it seems, is still the price of perfection.
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