By Connor Hart

As gamers gripe about the delayed release for the next 'Grand Theft Auto' installment, executives at the company developing the game say investors' patience will pay off.

Take-Two Interactive Software said Thursday that delaying 'Grand Theft Auto VI' to May 2026, rather than releasing it this fall as previously announced, is only causing anticipation to grow. Upon its launch, Chief Executive Strauss Zelnick says he expects the game to establish a new baseline for business, significantly boosting its top and bottom lines.

"I believe affording Rockstar additional time for such a groundbreaking project is a worthy investment," he said, referring to the Take-Two subsidiary behind the game.

New industry pricing trends should also help fuel the game's returns, according to analysts, who say that 'GTA VI' is likely to be more expensive than its predecessors with a base price of $80.

While fans countdown the days until 'Grand Theft Auto VI' hits shelves, Take-Two has other upcoming titles generating buzz and existing franchises that can drive the business. These factors should be enough to tide over investors until the hotly anticipated release, and some analysts even see room for the company to outperform its soft outlook for the current year.

UBS analysts expect hype around 'GTA VI' to continually build over the coming year, fueled by new announcements, trailers and gameplay. "We believe this will drive investor sentiment, similar to the stock's historical outperformance ahead of major releases," they said in a research note.

They are growing more convinced that Take-Two's financials will receive a significant lift in fiscal 2027 due to the launch of 'Grand Theft Auto VI,' in part citing record viewership for the game's second trailer, which last week received more than 475 million views in its first 24 hours of release.

Raymond Jones analysts similarly see no reason for investors to sell off shares of Take-Two prior to the launch of 'Grand Theft Auto VI,' concurring that the game is likely to fundamentally reshape the company's bottom line and net bookings for years to come.

They also wouldn't be surprised if Take-Two tops its own outlook for the year. The guide includes upcoming releases of 'Mafia: The Old Country' and 'Borderlands 4,' both of which the analysts say have caught fans' attention to date.

"The company is taking a bit more cautious view on FY26, with expectations for declines," Raymond James analysts said in a research note. "If Take-Two finds success from one of the launches, we believe this guidance could prove conservative."

At the same time, Take-Two's current titles continue to drive the business, helped by a healthy mobile-gaming unit and ongoing strength across its sporting titles. Key franchises including 'NBA 2K' and 'Red Dead Redemption' performed better than expected in the recent quarter, resulting in bookings at the top-end of the company's guidance, J.P. Morgan analysts say in a research note.

The company is also seeing strong engagement in 'Grand Theft Auto Online,' which analysts say could continue to scale ahead of the release of the franchise's next installment.

Write to Connor Hart at connor.hart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 16, 2025 15:38 ET (19:38 GMT)

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