Rockstar Says Its Next Game Won’t Take Another Eight Years

Rockstar Games announced that the development of its upcoming title—Grand Theft Auto VI—has created a technical and organizational foundation that will allow the studio’s subsequent project to be completed in a substantially shorter timeframe than the eight-year gap between *Red Dead Redemption 2* (2018) and GTA VI (November 19, 2026). Executives emphasized that the new engine, tools, and expanded team will enable “more quickly” development of the next game.

GTA 7 timeline mapped by Rockstar, the scene has been set Rockstar Claim GTA 6 Means Their Next Game Won’t Take As Long To Make IGN EntertainmentRockstar's next game won't take eight years to make: "The engine, the tools and the team we've built during GTA 6 will allow us to do things more quickly"

Rockstar’s workforce more than doubled during GTA VI’s production, growing from 2,441 employees in 2018 to 4,711 by 2026 across 12 offices. Of the 2026 staff, 4,020 are assigned to development and quality assurance, while 690 work in publishing. The studio also faced two major security incidents: a September 2022 network intrusion that leaked 90 video clips, and a later leak in August 2024 by a hacker group threatening to release a full build unless Take-Two Interactive complies. In response, remote work was eliminated in April 2024 to tighten security.

Rockstar's next game won't take eight years to make: "The engine, the tools and the team we've built during GTA 6 will allow us to do things more quickly"

• Employee count: 2,441 (2018) -> 4,711 (2026)

Rockstar's next game won't take eight years to make: "The engine, the tools and the team we've built during GTA 6 will allow us to do things more quickly"

• Development staff: 4,020 (2026)

Rockstar's next game won't take eight years to make: "The engine, the tools and the team we've built during GTA 6 will allow us to do things more quickly"

• Publishing staff: 690 (2026)

Rockstar's next game won't take eight years to make: "The engine, the tools and the team we've built during GTA 6 will allow us to do things more quickly"

• Release timeline: Original GTA VI launch announced for 2025; postponed to May 26, 2026 (occurred) and rescheduled to November 19 (scheduled).

Rockstar Claim GTA 6 Means Their Next Game Won’t Take As Long To Make

Jennifer Kolbe, head of publishing, recounted informing Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick about the May 2026 delay, noting Zelnick’s reasonable reaction and emphasizing the company’s responsibility to deliver “the best possible entertainment experience.”

Rockstar's next game won't take eight years to make: "The engine, the tools and the team we've built during GTA 6 will allow us to do things more quickly"

Strauss Zelnick has publicly stated that occasional delays are acceptable when they ensure a polished product, and that the revised launch will still occur within the same fiscal year as previously planned.

Rockstar's next game won't take eight years to make: "The engine, the tools and the team we've built during GTA 6 will allow us to do things more quickly"

• “The engine, the tools and the team we’ve built during this project will allow us to do things more quickly,” — Phil Hooker

IGN Entertainment

• “It feels like somebody's wading through your dirty washing.” — Rockstar North

Rockstar's next game won't take eight years to make: "The engine, the tools and the team we've built during GTA 6 will allow us to do things more quickly"

• “The idea that we would have the game in that many environments is something that I think the security team would not love," said Kolbe.” — Jennifer Kolbe

Rockstar's next game won't take eight years to make: "The engine, the tools and the team we've built during GTA 6 will allow us to do things more quickly"

• “Red Dead Redemption 2 takes place around the turn of the century, right?” — Jack Black

IGN Entertainment

The next Rockstar title is slated for release after November 19, 2026, though no specific date has been announced. The studio’s leadership suggests that the accelerated development pipeline could enable a follow-up game within five years, though the exact nature of the project—whether a new Grand Theft Auto entry, a continuation of Red Dead Redemption, or an entirely new IP—remains undisclosed.

GTA 7 timeline mapped by Rockstar, the scene has been set