2014 → 2026
Timeline
2014-09
Production reportedly begins
Rockstar Games is said to have started early work on the next entry in the GTA series shortly after the launch of GTA V on next-gen consoles.
2018
Internal codename 'Project Americas'
Reports surface that the next GTA is targeting a return to Vice City alongside a fictional South American region — the latter eventually scaled back.
2022-09-18
Massive pre-alpha leak
Roughly 90 in-development clips and source files are posted online. Rockstar confirms the breach and the existence of the next GTA.
2023-12-04
Trailer 1 released
First official trailer drops a day early after an online leak. Confirms Vice City, dual protagonists, and a 2025 target window.
2025-05
Release delayed to 2026
Take-Two and Rockstar announce a shift to a 2026 launch window to give the project additional polish time.
2025-05-06
Trailer 2 released
Second official trailer expands the cast and world, showcases Leonida beyond Vice City, and confirms the May 26, 2026 launch date.
2025-11
Release pushed to November 19, 2026
Rockstar announces a final shift of the launch date to November 19, 2026 — the date used throughout this site's countdown.
2026-06
Pre-launch marketing intensifies
Cover art, gameplay demos and press previews begin appearing in the months leading up to launch.