The delay of Grand Theft Auto 6 to May 26, 2026, was unwelcome news for many players, but for Sucker Punch, the studio behind Ghost of Yotei, it proved to be a relief.
Rockstar had initially scheduled GTA 6 for release in autumn 2025, but confirmed over the summer that it needed more time to meet expectations.
While the announcement disappointed fans waiting for the next entry in the series, it meant that Ghost of Yotei would no longer launch in the shadow of Rockstar’s blockbuster.
Speaking to MinnMax, Sucker Punch co-creative director Nate Fox said the studio celebrated the announcement. “We’re all still hungover, multi-month hangover. That was a great day,” he joked, referring to the team’s reaction when the delay was confirmed.
The timing of major releases has long affected how other studios position their games. When Hollow Knight: Silksong was shadow-dropped for release on September 4 2025, several developers adjusted their marketing or launch plans.
Titles including Demonschool, Aeterna Lucis, Little Witch in the Woods and Moros Protocol were impacted, while even an indie game without a fixed release date, Stomp and the Sword of Miracles, delayed its Kickstarter campaign.
Industry figures have commented on the scale of Rockstar’s upcoming release. Nigel Lowrie, co-founder of Devolver Digital, told IGN that Grand Theft Auto could be considered beyond AAA status, describing it as a cultural event.
Adam Lieb, CEO of Gamesight, added that the game has influenced almost every conversation around release scheduling in recent years.
Meanwhile, Ghost of Yotei remains set for October 2 2025. The follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima is set around Mount Yotei and takes place more than 300 years after the events of the original game.
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