GTA 6 launch effect: Three major publishers delay games to avoid clash

GTA effect is dominant

The whole gaming world and fans are patiently waiting for GTA 6, which is set to release in fall 2025. The same goes for game publishers, who are trying to avoid clashing with the upcoming Rockstar game.

According to a recent report, it appears that three major game publishers are delaying their games in order not to face GTA VI head on. Let’s check out more details in this article.

Three major video game publishers confirmed they're ready to delay their games to avoid #GTA6 Two top live-service titles also plan to skip updates during its release window"GTA 6 is basically a huge meteor and we will just stay clear of the blast zone"(via… pic.twitter.com/ghA5iIeKfZ

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) March 25, 2025

No one wants to clash with GTA 6

Christopher Dring of The Game Business revealed at this past weekend’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco that three major publishers are planning to delay their projects rather than fight GTA 6 straight on.

One top executive of a major gaming company told Dring, “Rockstar games typically take a lot of money and, more importantly, time out of the market. We’re not touching that; we have several backup plans in the pipeline.”

Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson reported similar emotions at GDC, with developers stating they are “waiting to see what GTA 6 does.”

Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported in December 2024 that publishers are hesitant to lock up fall 2025 dates because of Rockstar’s shadow.

It’s not just new releases that are feeling the heat; two “top 10” live-service game developers intend to skip major updates during GTA 6’s debut window, pushing patches three weeks forward or back to avoid the pandemonium.

Do we know who are these game publishers? For now, this information has not been revealed yet. However, they have made a pretty smart decision to avoid GTA VI.

There is no doubt that when this game is released, the whole world is going to stop. Fans have been waiting for this game like forever and according to Take Two’s CEO, this game is going to be nothing like anyone has ever seen before.

It is said that the game will release in fall 2025; however, there hasn’t been any official update or new trailer dropped for GTA 6 till now. Is it really going to be released in fall 2025? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

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