GTA 6 insiders claim game has been completed for 'a very long time'

GTA fans all over the world were left bereft last week, after learning the hotly anticipated GTA 6 would be delayed a further six months, until November 2026.

The publisher behind the title, Rockstar Games, apologised for 'adding additional time to what we realise has been a long wait', adding that the extra time 'will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve'.

But while they thanked fans for their patience and shared their excitement for players to 'experience the sprawling state of Leonida and a return to modern day Vice City', people have been left confused after a number of insiders claimed the game has actually been complete for 'a very long time'.

While you might be thinking something doesn't quite add up, the insiders have all insisted that while the game is 'complete', the rest of the time will be entirely dedicated to polishing and optimising.

I want to clarify a few things regarding GTA 6, since a lot of BS is circulating around.

1. The union layoffs in the UK and the delay are not related. There are 6000+ employees working at Rockstar, you aren't delaying a game over 35 people getting laid off, that's not how these… pic.twitter.com/VF3BdPYHqL

— Reece “Kiwi Talkz” Reilly (@kiwitalkz) November 7, 2025

Insider Gaming podcast host Tom Henderson recently said: "From what I've heard, it's been content ready for a very long time."

This seems to be a common consensus, with YouTuber Reece Reilly, known as Kiwi Talkz, writing on X: "The game is content complete, all the work from here on out is optimising the hell out of it and making sure all the systems work to prevent a Cyberpunk [2077] scenario."

As we know, Rockstar Games keeps an incredibly tight ship when it comes to any details being leaked, so it's important to note these rumours have not been confirmed by the publisher themselves.

History also tells us it can take a year or more to fix certain bugs and polish everything up, as was the case with Nintendo creating The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Given that GTA 6 is probably even bigger scale-wise, it makes a lot of sense that bosses would want a similar period of time to get everything perfect, especially given the fact that expectations are through the roof.

Former Rockstar boss Dan Houser previously admitted Zelda had been a huge influence on GTA since the game transitioned to 3D, proving the similarities between the two titles.

GTA 6 is now set for release on 19 November 2026, after previously being pushed back to May next year.

Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two, has previously made lofty promises over the scale of the upcoming game.

Zelnick said: "The key thing is that Rockstar Games is trying to create the best thing anyone’s ever seen in entertainment, not just interactive entertainment.

"That's a tall order, and I think consumers have huge hopes for the title."

LADbible has contacted Rockstar Games for comment.