Fall 2025 was going to be monumental, solely because it was supposed to host the release of GTA 6. Thousands were set for week-long PTOs, games journalists braced for exhaustive work hours, and Take-Two prepared for unprecedented success, but we all know what happened. The Q4 2025 window went the way of the Dodo, as a confirmed release date, penciled in for November 19, 2026, took its place.
The delay didn’t stop 2025 from being a fantastic year for video games, but it did deflate the groundbreaking potential it originally had. And that notion alone makes me wonder, what if? What if Rockstar’s latest title landed this year like it was intended to? What would the impact crater look like? How would the rest of the year shake out?
Being a product of this medium, the inquisitiveness soldered into my brain cells can’t help but expand on that question. So, if you’re looking for a dose of alt-fiction that doubles as a (mostly) measured prediction, here’s what would’ve happened if GTA 6 didn’t get delayed.
Physical Gaming Makes a Comeback as Lines Outside GameStop Once Again Form for GTA 6
It feels like 2007 all over again. The snot-nosed teens who lined up outside GameStop, aching for a copy of Halo 3, are now full-grown adults, aching for a copy of GTA 6. The 13-year-long wait for a new mainline Grand Theft Auto has drawn out seasoned gamers in droves, most of whom have flocked to their local GameStops, reviving the fabled tradition of a midnight release.
Some even brought along their kids to rejoice in the occasion, but we doubt that these budding gamers will receive their own copies. GameStop staff across multiple branches were blown away by the demand, as queues stretched for miles and entire city blocks were held to a standstill. For one night only, the brick-and-mortar retail experience has been restored to its former glory, causing the company’s value to trend upwards for the first time since Keith Gill really liked the stock.
Similar scenes were observed outside game stores across the globe, cementing GTA 6’s release as an international event. Players who didn’t line up for a physical copy were left wishing that they had, as PlayStation and Xbox’s digital storefronts were hit with extensive outages due to the sheer amount of simultaneous checkouts.
Following the launch day success, GameStop’s X account posted a message of gratitude to its customers before quietly circulating an internal memo urging staff to upsell Funko Pops and Amiibos.
Streaming Breaks the Charts as Twitch Viewership Hits Record Figures for GTA 6
Twitch benefited greatly from GTA 6’s release, as the title catapulted viewership numbers beyond the previous record of over 14 million. Day one streams from creators such as Kai Cenat, Asmongold, and CaseOh attracted millions of fans, taking Twitch’s concurrent viewship past the 16 million mark, and establishing a new record in the process.
As you’d expect, streamers didn’t shy away from a bit of pageantry throughout their broadcasts. Kai Cenat managed to recruit both Shawn Fonteno (Franklin) and Ned Luke (Michael) from GTA V’s voice cast for his stream, capturing their initial reactions to the opening hours of the game. Asmongold, on the other hand, staged an 18-hour stream, downing tens of Monster cans and avoiding a single sip of water.
Many players attempted to finish the entire game within Twitch’s 48-hour stream limit. Some lost their connection mid-way, others lost their sanity along the way – and in the end, they all failed.
A Wave of Gamer Backlash Erupts Over Perceived Woke Themes
GTA 6 has, once again, managed to capture contemporary culture in a manner only Rockstar is capable of. The game is packed with sizzling commentary and biting satire, aiming thinly-veiled digs in several directions. This includes a few jabs at the populist movement currently raging across the USA, which landed the game in controversy almost immediately.
First on the scene were a very distinct group of ‘gamers’ who are quick to take issue with political tones permeating into games. Their complaints appear to stem from the inclusion of the female co-protagonist, Lucia Caminos, who, despite being conventionally attractive, is evidence of “woke propaganda.”
“I knew this game was doomed when they announced the female MC,” said one disappointed player on Reddit, “But the fact that it doesn’t start with an ICE raid to deport the Hispanic criminal says so much about how woke Rockstar has become.”
Their disapproval grew stronger after the community came across satirical radio segments about the game’s fictional President. Those segments portray the in-game President as a raging racist, a virulent sexist, and an incapable moron – aptly named Ronald A**h*le – who has faked his way to the ultimate position of authority.
“I can’t believe Rockstar would push this shameless narrative,” said an X user who previously boycotted Wolfenstein for being a “leftist power fantasy.” “It’s their loss at the end of the day. Go WOKE Go BROKE, Am I right guys!?”
GTA 6 Does the Unthinkable With $2 Billion in Day One Sales
Thanks to strong pre-orders and an even stronger release, GTA 6 has gathered an estimated $2 billion in revenue. The exact breakdown between the two platforms and editions is yet to be revealed, but that figure has already secured its position as the highest-grossing media title in the history of entertainment.
Industry analysts are forecasting the game to record 100 million unit sales within two months, and an additional 10 million following the release of GTA 6 Online. Needless to say, the scenes at Take-Two’s NYC headquarters were of jubilation, as the company’s stock hit record highs in the market.
Company executives couldn’t stop gushing over the title’s critical acclaim and commercial success, hailing Rockstar as “the greatest development studio on the planet.” When asked if the studio would avoid future layoffs, the executives refused to comment.
The Industry Steps Aside as a Domino Effect Takes Over in 2025
You heard that right, every single Q4 2025 release has now been delayed to 2026. While most AAA titles had already cleared the landing pad for GTA 6’s arrival, some games, such as Battlefield 6, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and The Outer Worlds 2, held out. Their publishers were likely expecting the game’s seismic release to peter out in a few weeks, but according to forecasts, GTA 6 will remain the highest-selling game on consoles well into Christmas 2026.
As a result, Battlefield 6 is now aiming for a May 2026 release, while Activision is contemplating scrapping Black Ops 7 entirely. Even Xbox has delayed its day-one Game Pass releases, although some argue that the lack of promotion around these titles sets them up for failure from the jump.
The only exception to this trend is PowerWash Simulator 2, with the devs being confident that its playerbase will show up, no matter what. It’s hard to argue with that rationale – even GTA 6 can’t deliver the satisfaction of hosing down your filthy garage, one square inch at a time.