Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, and Star Wars).
There are months, not years, until Grand Theft Auto 6 launches, but fans have been waiting literal decades for a sixth mainline installment in Rockstar’s exuberant, crime-riddled franchise. Indeed, while it is incredibly exciting to be a Grand Theft Auto fan in 2026, with Grand Theft Auto 6’s release date being seemingly concrete, we have come a long way from what is considered Rockstar’s most prolific era of releases.
On Reddit, user raptors201966 has shared a Rockstar release timeline graphic that conveniently lists each game the studio has developed, as well as the year it was shipped. Rockstar is not the lone AAA studio to have its release timeline look the way it does, and yet it is alarming to bear witness to how barren Rockstar’s slate of games looks today in comparison to the 2000s. Rockstar’s Release Timeline Has Changed Considering that Red Dead Redemption 2 was released in 2018 , it will be nearly eight years since Rockstar last launched a game by the time Grand Theft Auto 6 is released, assuming it meets its scheduled release date. Moreover, it will be 13 years since the last Grand Theft Auto game, Grand Theft Auto 5, came out. Assessing the timeline graphic shared on Reddit, user UniversitySalty8130 laments, “2000-2010 rockstar was on fire.. sadly so many forgotten franchises,” while user NeadForMead reflects, “Crazy how there’s a period of 6 years where they released 18 games, and now we’re in a period of 6 years where they released 0 games.” However, there is a method to Rockstar’s madness, and fans are conscious of why there is such a wide disparity now in the gap between game releases. As user kylr01 states, “This would worry me if it was due to rockstar not caring and giving up but it’s not, it’s because their games are becoming more detailed,” and the quality expected of many high-profile AAA studios—whether those expectations are realistic or not—is perhaps at least one significant factor as to why some games are now taking sometimes five or more years in the oven. To be fair, though, Hollow Knight: Silksong’s seven-year-long development was reportedly the byproduct of Team Cherry simply enjoying adding more to the game, and perhaps Rockstar has nestled into a similar ideology with its two biggest IPs, Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto. Fans Are Ready For GTA 6 Anyone who considers themselves a gamer in any sense of the word will likely be at least marginally interested in the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6, even if it is merely from a curiosity standpoint. The wait is almost over, ending brutal dry spells for Rockstar in terms of actual releases, but it is sadly unknown how long we will have to wait for the next Red Dead Redemption or Grand Theft Auto game once the dust settles. Subscribe to our newsletter for GTA 6 and Rockstar insights Want a smarter take? Subscribe to the newsletter for deeper analysis, curated perspectives, and clear context on GTA 6, Rockstar's release patterns, and how they shape the gaming landscape - ideal if you follow this topic closely. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19, 2026. Grand Theft Auto 6 Like Follow Followed Action Adventure OpenCritic Reviews Released November 19, 2026 ESRB Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+ Developer Rockstar Games Publisher Rockstar Games Engine Rockstar Advanced Game Engine Multiplayer Online Multiplayer 8 Images Close
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