GTA VI delay shifts gaming industry boost to 2026, says Newzoo

The eagerly awaited release of Grand Theft Auto VI, now set for 2026, has pushed back expectations for a significant boost in the global video game industry this year. This update comes from research firm Newzoo, which shared its findings with Reuters. Initially, the arrival of this blockbuster title was anticipated to drive substantial growth in 2025. However, the delay has prompted analysts to revise their forecasts. The global video game market is now expected to increase by 3.4% in 2025, a slight rise from the previously predicted 3.2% growth in 2024. While this is a positive adjustment, it remains modest due to the lack of major software releases in the near future. Michiel Buijsman, principal analyst at Newzoo, noted, "This forecast reflects concrete changes, including hardware cycles, pricing trends, install base growth, and title pipelines." The long-term outlook for the market has also been modified, with Newzoo now estimating a compounded annual growth rate of 3.3% through 2027, down from an earlier forecast of 3.7%. The anticipated growth momentum is now largely expected in 2026, coinciding with the release of GTA VI alongside other highly anticipated titles such as Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem. Furthermore, the PC version of GTA VI, expected to launch after the console version, is projected to contribute to market growth into 2027. On the hardware front, sales are currently facing challenges. Price hikes for Sony's PlayStation and Microsoft's Xbox consoles, partly due to tariffs, have raised concerns about consumer demand in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty. Conversely, Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 console is performing exceptionally well, quickly becoming the company's fastest-selling hardware. Adding to the hardware narrative, Microsoft has recently introduced the Xbox Ally—a handheld console developed in collaboration with ASUS—set to launch during the holiday season of 2025. While 2025 may be seen as a transitional period for the gaming industry, with gradual growth and ongoing platform shifts, experts believe that the real advancements will come in 2026, marking a crucial time for both developers and gamers around the world.