Former Rockstar Designer Reveals How Long GTA 6 Has Been in Development

Yesterday, 16:45
Diana Golenko

The second trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 gave fans an in-depth look at the game’s advanced technology — but just how long has it actually been in development? Former Rockstar Games designer David O'Reilly has the answer.

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Game World Art, O'Reilly shared his reaction to the screenshots released by Rockstar following the second trailer. During the video, he revealed that he worked at the studio from 2018 to 2023 and confirmed that development on GTA 6 began immediately after Red Dead Redemption 2 wrapped:

I worked on GTA 6 from 2018 to 2023. Went onto it after we wrapped up on RDR2. It's fascinating having a look at all this stuff.
— David O'Reilly

This means the game has been in development for around seven years — not including an additional year dedicated to polishing and final touches.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to release on May 26, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. There is currently no official information regarding a PC version.

Earlier, Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier reported that the 2026 delay has caused significant concern within the games industry.

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