Will GTA VI hold the Guinness World Record for the longest development cycle in video game history?

Following the announcement that Grand Theft Auto VI will be released on November 19, 2026, gamers began to wonder if the new Rockstar Games title could break the Guinness World Record for the longest development in video game history, currently held by Duke Nukem Forever.

According to Guinness World Records, the development of Duke Nukem Forever, by 3D Realms, lasted 14 years and 43 days, from its announcement in April 1997 to its release in June 2011.

In the case of GTA VI, Rockstar Games officially confirmed that the game was in development in February 2022. Subsequently, in December 2023, they released the first official trailer and announced its release for 2025. However, the date was postponed twice, most recently to November 19, 2026.

This means that, by the time of its release, the game will have been just over four years since its official announcement, still far from the more than 14 years that set the record for Duke Nukem Forever.

The company explained that the decision to delay the launch was due to their intention to deliver a product with the level of detail and polish characteristic of the series. In their statement, they thanked fans for their patience and reaffirmed their commitment to quality.

Although GTA VI won't break the Guinness World Record for longest development, its process and the enormous anticipation surrounding it already make it one of the most anticipated releases of the decade.

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from Rockstar Games and Guinness World Records.