Game On: ‘GTA VI’ delayed to May 2026

“Game On” is The Fly’s weekly recap of the stories powering up or beating down video game stocks.

‘GTA VI’ DELAY: On Friday, Take-Two (TTWO) announced that its upcoming video game “Grand Theft Auto VI,” which was initially slated for a 2025 release, has been delayed to May 26, 2026. “We are very sorry that this is later than you expected,” said developer Rockstar Games. “The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game. With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”

Following the announcement, Take-Two’s shares dropped, with JPMorgan saying thtat fiscal 2026 estimate cuts for the stock “are certainly going to be significant” as a result of the delay. Meanwhile, TD Cowen’s Doug Creutz said the move is a “not-so-bad” outcome, as the now-certain release date is only about six months past the previously expected launch date.

Additionally, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported after the announcement that nobody he had talked to at Rockstar Games believed Fall 2025 was a real window for a “very long time now.” The game required too much work and didn’t have enough time, and there seems to be a “real desire” from Rockstar management to avoid “brutal” crunch, Schreier noted. The title slipping to 2026 has “seemed inevitable” for months, if not longer, the reporter added.

MICROSOFT RAISES XBOX PRICES: Last week, Microsoft (MSFT) said that, as of May 1, it has adjusted recommended retailer pricing for its Xbox consoles and controllers worldwide. “We also expect to adjust the pricing of some of our new, first-party games starting this holiday season to $79.99,” the company said. “Those titles purchased on the Xbox Store have the benefit of Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing players to buy once and play on console and PC at no additional cost. We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.” Of note, Xbox Series S 512 GB consoles will go to $379.99 from $299.99; Series S 1TB will go to $429.99 from $349.99; Xbox Series X Digital will go to $549.99 from $449.99; Series X with disc drive to $599.99 from $499.99; and Series X 2TB Galaxy Special Edition to $729.99 from $599.99.

APPLE/EPIC: Last week, a federal judge ruled that Apple (AAPL) violated a court order by not opening up the App Store to third-party payment options and must stop charging commissions on purchases outside its software marketplace, Bloomberg’s Josh Sisco said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the company will return its popular video game “Fortnite” to the U.S. iOS App Store the following week. “Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court’s friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we’ll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic,” Sweeney said.

Meanwhile, The Verge’s Sarah Jeong reported that Apple has filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit in an attempt to challenge last week’s ruling that prevents the iPhone maker from charging developers fees on purchases made outside the App Store. Investors in Epic include Tencent (TCEHY), KKR (KKR), Disney (DIS), and Sony (SONY).

EA/RESPAWN: Last week, Electronic Arts’ (EA) Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind “Apex Legends” and “Star Wars Jedi,” released a statement on X, formerly Twitter: “At Respawn, bold ideas, creative risks, and passionate storytelling have always defined who we are. That spirit has carried us through incredible highs – and sometimes through difficult changes, too. As we sharpen our focus for the future, we’ve made the decision to step away from two early-stage incubation projects and make some targeted team adjustments across Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi. These decisions aren’t easy, and we are deeply grateful to every teammate affected – their creativity have helped build Respawn into what it is today. We’re offering meaningful support to those impacted, including exploring new opportunities within EA.”

Following the statement, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that EA is laying off 300-400 staff overall, and that the canceled project would have been a “Titanfall” game. Roughly 100 of the laid off staff were at Respawn, the author said, citing a person familiar with the workforce reduction. “As part of our continued focus on our long-term strategic priorities, we’ve made select changes within our organization that more effectively aligns teams and allocates resources in service of driving future growth,” EA spokesman Justin Higgs said. The canceled game, code-named “R7,” would have been an extraction shooter set in the “Titanfall” universe, though it was not close to being released, Schreier noted, citing people familiar with its development.

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MORE VIDEO GAME NEWS:

• Microsoft reported an 8% year-over-year increase in Xbox content and services revenue in Q3
• Citi initiated Nintendo (NTDOY) with a Buy rating
• Microsoft announced “Gears of War: Reloaded,” out for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5 on August 26, 2025