Hideo Kojima Confirms GTA 6 Has Affected Release Dates, Including Death Stranding 2

Legendary director Hideo Kojima has revealed GTA 6’s influence through A Hideo Kojima Radio. It’s long been suspected that many in the industry have been reluctant to give games a release date through fear of clashing with GTA 6. Kojima has opened up on the discussion and said Rockstar’s Game changed Death Stranding 2’s initial release date.

Hideo Kojima‘s tenure as the legendary Metal Gear Solid director ended during the making of The Phantom Pain. Since then, he’s gone on to head Kojima Productions and bring Death Stranding to life. His brilliant mind has since moved on to Death Stranding 2—due for release on June 26—and he recently discussed GTA 6’s release date on A Hideo Kojima Radio.

Lucia looks set to rule all. Credit to Rockstar Games

Via a translated passage from @Genki_JPN (a leading source of gaming news), we’ve learned from Kojima himself how impactful Grand Theft Auto 6 really is.

Kojima says companies try to avoid big hitters such as a Grand Theft Auto VI and explained how developers and publishers have had to adapt: “Some are saying GTA may or may not release in November. As soon as it would be announced for November, everyone would move out of the way. 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.”

Genki’s post also explains Kojima wanted a “September release” for Death Stranding 2, and this was likely changed due to a potential clash with GTA 6.

Hideo Kojima says when publishers decide the release date for games like Death Stranding 2 they try avoid big sellers like Grand Theft Auto VI! via @koji10_tbs

“For example some are saying GTA may or may not release in November. As soon as it would be announced for November,

We now know GTA 6 releases on May 26, 2026. This has likely given many publishers a huge sigh of relief for 2025. Summer Game Fest is likely to be rife with release dates all dropping this year.

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