EA feels good about Battlefield’s release as GTA 6 is delayed, but other developers feel differently. Read on to learn more about EA’s outlook on their upcoming release and how developers reacted to the GTA 6 delay.
GTA 6 Delay Effects and Reactions
Battlefield Release Window "Clearer Than It Was Before"
EA confirmed Battlefield’s release window following GTA 6’s delay announcement. During their Q4 and FY 2025 Earnings Conference Call on May 6, EA CEO Andrew Wilson announced that Battlefield will release in March 2026, and feels better about it with GTA 6’s delay.
Whern asked about how big major expected releases affect other titles’ launches, Wilson said that not many companies would be able to launch their games earlier to avoid GTA 6, as it’s much more difficult to push a release date forward. However, he was pleased that things turned out well for them, as Battlefield will arrive 2 months earlier than GTA 6.
It has been a long standing worry for developers and publishers when to launch their games since GTA 6 revealed its first trailer. With its delay announcement, many are trying to adjust with their plans, but Battlefield is satisfied how things turned out.
"Relative to Battlefield, what we have said all along is we’ve been building towards a window that we thought made the most sense for Battlefield," Wilson explained. "But we wouldn’t launch into a window that we thought truncated the value that we’ve invested into the franchise, or the value that we think our players will derive from it once they jump in and start playing,"
He stated that the "window is clearer than it was before" and feels good in releasing Battlefield in 2026. Battlefield is set to be released in March 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Death Stranding 2 Will Come Out Regardless of GTA 6’s Release Window
Meanwhile, Death Stranding 2 (DS2) Director Hideo Kojima understood that everyone would move out of the way for GTA 6’s release. However, in an episode of Koji Pro radio broadcast, he said that DS2’s launch date was decided a long time ago, and it would release regardless.
Kojima said that he heard rumors that GTA 6 would come out in November, and other companies would move their releases if it was announced so. He compared this to Mission Impossible in the film industry: "For instance, if a new Mission Impossible movie were to release in May, others wouldn't be able to compete with that so would move somewhere else."
Despite others steering away from GTA 6’s release window, Kojima wanted to follow their development schedule and even aimed for a September release. Furthermore, as Kojima mentioned that DS2 is now 95% complete, its launch will understandably come sooner rather than later.
Other Developers Steer Clear, Devolver Digital Says Bring It On
For other developers, GTA 6’s looming release window is something they must consider for their titles to flourish. The Game Business Show reported in March that multiple game execs are ready to make way for the highly anticipated action-adventure.
An anonymous exec said, "We will nudge our releases back or forward three weeks to avoid it. Of course, the problem is everyone is going to do the same. So three to four weeks before or after GTA 6, you’re going to get a load of games dropping content in what they believe will be the safe zone."
On the other hand, Cult of the Lamb publisher Devolver Digital announced that they will release a game on the same day as GTA 6. However, the studio has yet to reveal which game they will be competing against Rockstar Games’ open-world giant. The publishing company has many games under them that may have a follow-up such as Cult of the Lamb, Inscription, Hotline Miami, or even a brand new IP altogether.
Regardless, GTA 6’s delay made waves across the industry, and its effect will be felt in the coming months as games adjust their timelines to avoid, or some even compete against, them. GTA 6 is now set to be released on May 26, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. To stay up to date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below!
Source:
Electronic Arts Q4 and FY 2025 Earnings Conference Call
Koji Pro radio broadcast
Major publishers plan to delay games in face of GTA 6 threat… but are they right to?
Devolver Digital on GTA 6's Release Date Delay
