A dedicated player waited outside GameStop on what was once GTA 6’s launch date, unaware the game had been delayed six months.
“I’m waiting for GameStop to open because they said it releases today… I thought everyone was excited for this.”
After two delays, Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI is finally set to launch on November 19, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S — making it one of the most anticipated game releases in years. But the road to that date has been bumpy, and one loyal fan made that painfully clear on May 26.
May 26 was supposed to be GTA 6’s original release date. Rockstar announced the delay back in November 2025, pushing the game from May 26, 2026 to November 19. Most fans adjusted their calendars accordingly. One fan, however, did not — or chose not to.
On that date, a player showed up at their local GameStop and waited for the store to open, expecting to walk out with a copy of GTA 6. The catch: he was the only one there. He shared the moment online, puzzled that no one else had come to line up for what was supposed to be one of gaming’s biggest days.
The confusion is at least partially understandable. Rockstar’s official X (formerly Twitter) account still had its second trailer pinned at the top — complete with a “May 26, 2026” release date plastered at the end. For anyone who missed the delay announcement, that pinned post told a very different story.
Reddit reacts
The post quickly spread across Reddit, where the gaming community had plenty to say. Reactions ranged from sympathetic to playfully savage. Some joked they had already pre-loaded the digital version. Others pretended the game had secretly launched the year before. A few suggested the fan try a different store — maybe they’d have better luck. Someone even half-seriously floated the idea of suing Rockstar for false advertising.
More than just a sequel
The jokes aside, the episode captures something real about where GTA 6 stands in gaming culture. After more than a decade since GTA V, the anticipation for its successor has grown into something much bigger than excitement for a new title. Players aren’t just hoping for better graphics or a larger map — they want a world that feels alive, a story with emotional weight, gameplay systems with genuine depth, and an open world that sets a new standard for the genre.
GTA 6 arrives on November 19. Until then, fans will have to wait — and maybe double-check the release date before heading to the store.