Rockstar Games has announced a delay for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, pushing its release to May 26, 2026. The game was previously expected in the fall of 2025. Rockstar expressed regret for the delay, emphasizing the need for extra time to meet the high expectations surrounding the game. This news follows a history of delays for Rockstar's ambitious projects, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, which was delayed three times. Despite assurances from parent company Take-Two Interactive as recently as February, the delay opens opportunities for other publishers to release games in late 2025 without competing with GTA 6.

While GTA 6's delay may disappoint fans, 2025 promises a strong lineup of alternative games, including Doom: The Dark Ages and Mario Kart World. The delay offers gamers a chance to explore their backlogs and discover new titles. The gaming community is invited to share their thoughts on the delay and their plans for 2025.

In related news, Xbox has announced price increases for its consoles, accessories, and games. Games are set to rise to $80 USD later this year, potentially influencing prices for third-party titles and PlayStation consoles. The Xbox Series S (500GB) will now cost $380 USD, while the 2TB Xbox Series X will be priced at $729. These changes coincide with Nintendo's Switch 2 announcement, which includes a $450 console price and $80 price tag for first-party games like Mario Kart World. Xbox will also implement the $80 price point for its first-party games this holiday season.

The industry is watching to see if Sony will follow suit with price hikes for PlayStation games. Rising manufacturing costs and US trade war tariffs may necessitate price adjustments. Given Sony's successful hardware and valuable first-party IP, price increases seem likely. Sony has defended the value of its games, such as Returnal, which was released at $70 despite initial criticism. The increasing costs associated with developing Sony's biggest games suggest that an $80 price tag is inevitable.

These price increases may accelerate the industry's shift toward digital games and subscription services, such as PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass. Digital games offer higher revenue margins compared to physical media. With Xbox games soon reaching $80, Xbox Game Pass becomes a more attractive option for budget-conscious consumers. This trend is concerning for lovers of physical media, as it could lead to an all-digital future.

The price increases across the gaming industry reflect declining profits and increasing development costs. The sustainability of current game and console prices has been a topic of debate among industry insiders. Grand Theft Auto 6's eventual price point, potentially $80 or higher, will be a key indicator of whether these price increases are a temporary adjustment or a long-term shift. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has previously argued that games are undervalued relative to the experiences they provide. Despite the likelihood of higher prices, lower-priced games like Helldivers 2 demonstrate continued interest in more affordable options. Consumers may become more selective in their game purchases.