If the wait for GTA 6 already felt surreal, it has officially crossed into the absurd. The long-anticipated sequel has now been outpaced by an unexpected scientific milestone: researchers are on the brink of bringing the extinct dodo bird back to life. That’s right nature might beat Rockstar Games to the finish line.
The comparison has quickly become the latest punchline among weary fans, who have been watching the game’s release date drift further and further away. With GTA 6 pushed to November 2026, it’s not shocking that players are finding humor in places no one could have predicted. But beneath the jokes lies something real: the frustration of a community that has been waiting for more than a decade.
A Delay That Sparked a Thousand Memes
Every major AAA delay creates disappointment, but GTA 6 delays create global reactions. The shift from Fall 2025 to May 2026 was already a major blow. The second delay moving the launch to November 2026 felt like a breaking point. Fans have been remarkably patient, but this time the fatigue is unmistakable.
And so the internet did what it always does: it coped through humor. Jokes about the sun burning out before GTA 6 comes out are nothing new, but the dodo angle struck a particular nerve because unlike some memes this one is based on real scientific progress.
The Dodo’s Return: Science Moves Faster Than Rockstar
For decades, the dodo bird has symbolized irreversible extinction. But recent breakthroughs in genetics have made its revival surprisingly feasible. Scientists working on de-extinction projects announced in 2025 that they were closer than ever to reintroducing dodos into the wild.
Researchers discovered that certain chicken breeds can act as viable surrogates for dodo genetic material. While pigeons remain the closest living relatives, some chickens can accept the transferred germ cells and pass down traits to their offspring. In simple terms: science has a working plan.
These developments may culminate in the first new dodo egg in centuries potentially before GTA 6 reaches store shelves. As one fan joked, “The dodo went extinct faster than GTA 6 is being released.”
The irony isn’t lost on anyone.
How Did We End Up Here?
Rockstar Games is no stranger to long development cycles. Grand Theft Auto V released in 2013, and even at that time the gap between major titles was long. But GTA 6’s production scale is unprecedented. The ambition is clear in every detail we’ve seen: larger worlds, more realism, deeper systems, and narrative complexity that rivals prestige television.
Yet this ambition comes at a cost and the cost is time. Add in Rockstar’s renewed commitment to avoiding extreme “crunch” conditions, and the slow timeline makes more sense, even if it remains difficult for fans to swallow.
Will GTA 6 Actually Hit Its New Release Date?
Rockstar insists that November 19, 2026 is firm. But after several delays, fans are cautious. Some analysts believe the November date is realistic, while others remain unconvinced based on the studio’s production history. As one industry insider put it, “This is Rockstar. Expect surprises.”
Still, insiders widely agree that another delay is unlikely unless something extraordinary happens behind the scenes. Rockstar reportedly wants to avoid the burnout issues that plagued the final months of Red Dead Redemption 2’s development. For that reason alone, the studio is determined not to commit to a date it cannot meet.
The Fan Reaction: Humor, Frustration, and Reluctant Hope
The response to the delay has been a mixture of dry humor and genuine exhaustion. Social media feeds erupted with memes comparing the timeline of GTA 6 to scientific and historical events. One widely shared post read, “At this rate, we’ll colonize Mars before GTA 6 launches.”
Another added, “When the dodo comes back and GTA 6 still isn’t out, that’s when I’ll lose it.”
Despite the jokes, fans are not giving up. The interest remains sky-high, and the franchise’s cultural weight hasn’t diminished. If anything, the humor surrounding the delay has strengthened the sense of community among long-waiting players.
A Strange But Fitting Comparison
There is something oddly poetic about comparing the world’s most anticipated video game to a creature that hasn’t walked the Earth since the 17th century. Both capture the imagination. Both feel mythical in their own way. And somehow, both may return in the same decade.
Rockstar may not have planned it this way, but the unexpected parallel has given fans a break from frustration a moment of levity in a long, restless wait.
The Road Ahead
With one year left before release assuming the schedule holds Rockstar now sits in a delicate position. Marketing beats will matter, and fans expect more than another cinematic teaser. They want gameplay. They want details. And they want reassurance that the release date won’t slip again.
Scientists racing to revive an extinct species likely didn’t anticipate becoming part of the GTA conversation either. Yet here we are, at an intersection of pop culture and biology that no one could have predicted.
One thing is clear: when GTA 6 finally arrives, no delay, no meme, and no dodo will overshadow the phenomenon it’s destined to become.