Rockstar Games has officially announced that the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI will be released on May 26, next year.
The release date marks a delay from earlier expectations, with the developer citing the need for additional time to ensure the game meets the high standards fans have come to expect from the franchise, according to Rockstar.
"We are very sorry that this is later than you expected," Rockstar said in a statement released Friday. "The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team."
The company emphasised its commitment to quality, stating that the extra development time is necessary to deliver an experience that lives up to players’ expectations.
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"With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception," the statement added.
Rockstar thanked fans for their continued patience and support, promising to share more updates in the near future.
Started in 1997, the Grand Theft Auto series almost immediately created a name for itself as a nihilistically provocative and crudely satirical pop-culture sensation, in which players took on the roles of urban criminals testing the frameworks of US society as they tried to rise up the ranks of a gangland underworld.
Created by Rockstar, a games development studio based in Dundee, Scotland, the GTA games have always been a parody of US excess, with witty in-game jokes on everything from heart attack-inducing burgers to smart homes.