Take-Two Interactive announced on Thursday that it is now slated to release "Grand Theft Auto VI" on November 19 next year, marking the latest delay for the gaming industry's most highly anticipated title, following the unprecedented success of its predecessor. The company's shares, which had initially stated a May 26 launch date, plummeted by over 7% in extended trading.
This marks the second delay for the game, which was originally set for release this year, and will further disappoint millions of fans who have been eagerly waiting for more than a decade for the next installment in the best-selling franchise. "We apologize for adding more time to what we understand has been a long wait," said developers at Rockstar Games, "but these extra months will allow us to complete the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve."
Expected to be a game-changer, "GTA VI" could spur console and hardware upgrades, giving a boost to the video game industry growth at a time when gamers are becoming more discerning with their titles and prefer sticking with proven franchises. "Taking the right amount of time to develop and perfect the game is crucial because generally, rushed games with flaws often fail to recover or reach their full sales potential," noted Wyatt Swanson, an analyst at DA Davidson & Co.
Analysts predict that "GTA VI" will generate billions in sales within the first few weeks of its release. Set to debut 13 years after "Grand Theft Auto V" captivated the industry with its advanced graphics, gameplay mechanics, and realistic environments, making it one of the most profitable video games ever, Take-Two also raised its forecast for annual bookings to between $6.40 billion and $6.50 billion, up from its previous forecast of between $6.05 billion and $6.15 billion, fueled by strong spending on its mobile and premium titles.
