GTA 6 Splash Zone has already been identified by developers

Grand Theft Auto 6 has been lurking in the distance mocking players and the industry as a whole. Rockstar's long-awaited project will be the biggest release of the year, regardless of how it's received. Even if it doesn't meet many expectations, the eyes of the industry will be glued Grand Theft Auto 6 when November rolls around. The amount of anticipation surrounding this game is already wild, and it's only going to get more intense as summer approaches.

During Take-Two Interactive's last earnings call back in February, it was revealed that marketing for GTA 6 will start in the summer and that's when things will really kick off. Between the two trailers that have already been released and the large number of rumors and leaks, the world is going to see a wild amount of GTA 6 talk. Whether that's good or bad is up to the player, but it looks like the industry is already preparing for the tidal wave of attention the game will receive both pre- and post-launch.

Rockstar employee leaks early GTA 6 gameplay footage

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Early development of GTA 6 game leaked online

A former Rockstar employee's demo reel leaks in-development footage from Grand Theft Auto 6, potentially teasing some new features.

Half of the 2026 game release calendar is completely incomplete except for GTA 6

This mostly refers to AAA releases. There will certainly be indie games in the mix in the final months of 2026, but AAA developers are clearly avoiding that time of year. So far, the list of games releasing in 2026 is pretty stable until it hits September. After September, it's a steep descent that leaves you pretty much alone GTA 6 in the spotlight in November.

The biggest games launch before November 2026

Crimson Desert – March 19
Pragmata – April 17
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred DLC – April 28th
Invincible vs. – April 30
Saros – April 30
Forza Horizon 6 – May 6
Directive 8020 – May 12
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book – May 21st
007 First Light – May 27
LEGO Batman – Legacy of the Dark Knight – May 29
Echoes of Aincrad – July 10
Beast of Reincarnation – August 4
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls – August 6th
Halloween – September 8
Phantom Blade Zero – September 9th
Marvel's Wolverine – September 15th

Rearrange the cases in the correct US release order.

Light (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

October and December are basically a wasteland right now, and it's easy to see why. There will be tons of players waiting to buy something new when GTA 6 is just around the corner. Not buying games in October better ensures that players don't have to rush to finish anything before GTA 6 coming here. Then, once December is here, a significant portion of the players will be busy with GTA 6. That makes December an even worse time to launch.

Some upcoming games are currently stuck in a tough position

Control resonant
Fable
Kena: Scars of Kosmora
Horizon Hunters Gathering
Onimusha: Path of the Sword
Silent Hill: Townfall
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Star Wars: Zero Company
Subnautica 2 (Early Access)
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Duskbloods
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis

All of these games have yet to secure an official release date, but they've all either been confirmed or at least speculated to arrive sometime this year. The big question is this: Where do they fit into a calendar that is quickly becoming crowded? June and July are still pretty sparse, so it's always a possibility. However, the release date would have to be announced quite soon. A handful of these will also very likely be pushed back to 2027. For games like Fable, Control resonantand Silent Hill: Townfallbut release in 2026 feels imminent.

Silent Hill: Townfallthat the release date is set for October is the obvious option, but that's a really dangerous month to be in. Also Halloween the game seems to be aware that launching in the actual month that Halloween is in is a bad idea. Both Fable and Control resonant feels like late summer or early fall games, but it would also make them not only compete with each other but Marvel's Wolverinealso. Fable has already been delayed once, so another push back is probably not the best idea.

Players must prepare for GTA 6 Overload

GTA 6 is still a while away at the moment, but the year is flying by. There are many reasons to be excited about Rockstar's next game, but it can also quickly become overwhelming. It's already a hot topic, but it's going to be a whole different beast when it's finally here. Gamers, streamers and even those outside the gaming world have something to say about it. Spoilers will abound, fans will scour every corner of the game for hidden details and questions about Rockstar's plans after GTA 6 will already be in many people's minds.

Right now, players just have to sit and play the waiting game. There is no way to know when Rockstar will reveal a new update. The developer really likes to surprise fans and make big reveals on their own terms, so events like Summer Game Fest and Gamescom are almost always off the table. It will more than likely be a new one GTA 6 trailer sometime this summer though. The game is still a big mystery at the moment, but all will be revealed in November. Until then, now is the perfect time to either revisit past Rockstar games or enjoy the upcoming titles that are holding down the calendar before GTA 6s inevitable end of the year reign.