Take-Two $TTWO ( ▼ 5.38% ) just gave investors two things they love: higher guidance and a firm date for Grand Theft Auto 6. The video game publisher topped expectations on quarterly bookings and boosted its full-year outlook, while reaffirming that GTA 6 is set to launch on November 19, 2026.
After months of nerves around delays, that release date is starting to feel real.
Players Are Still Spending
Take-Two reported fiscal Q3 net bookings of $1.76 billion, up 28% from a year ago and well above the $1.58 billion analysts expected. That also beat the company’s own prior guidance range, showing strong demand for its existing lineup, including Grand Theft Auto Online and NBA 2K.
Management raised its full-year bookings outlook to between $6.65 billion and $6.7 billion, ahead of Wall Street’s expectations. It also narrowed its projected full-year net loss, signaling improved operating performance even before its biggest title hits shelves.
GTA 6 Hype Cycle Back on Track
Take-Two had previously pushed back the launch of GTA 6 from May to November 2026, sparking concerns about timing and execution. Tuesday’s report reaffirmed the November 19 date, easing fears that another delay could be coming.
Given how massive the franchise is, the game is widely expected to be one of the biggest entertainment launches of the decade. For Take-Two $TTWO, GTA 6 is not just a product. It is a financial event.
AI Game Tools Sparked a Selloff, but Analysts Shrug
Shares of Take-Two and other gaming companies have recently been under pressure after Google $GOOGL ( ▼ 1.96% ) showcased Project Genie, a tool that can generate simple playable worlds from text or image prompts. Since then, Take-Two has lost billions in market value.
Many analysts argue the market reaction is overdone. Current AI tools, they say, lack deep interactivity and replay value and are far from replacing blockbuster, story-driven titles built over years by large teams.
For now, Wall Street seems to be refocusing on something more tangible: strong bookings today and GTA 6 tomorrow.