Rockstar Games isn’t exactly known for flooding the market with annual releases. Instead, the studio takes its time, painstakingly sculpting massive open worlds and ambitious narratives that almost always define the generation. With Grand Theft Auto 6 slated to launch in May 2026, you’d be forgiven for thinking that’s the only project Rockstar’s pouring its resources into right now. But according to Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, that’s not quite the whole story.
GTA 6 is the main event, but not the only one
In a recent interview with CNBC (via Rockstar Mag), Zelnick confirmed that while GTA 6 is Rockstar’s “primary focus”, the studio also has “a lot of other things going on.” That small nugget of information has ignited speculation among fans, many of whom have waited years for updates on beloved — if dormant — franchises like Bully and Red Dead Redemption.
Now, before we all start collectively jumping to conclusions, Zelnick didn’t elaborate on what exactly those mysterious “other things” are. Still, the mere admission that Rockstar isn’t going all-in solely on GTA 6 has sparked plenty of theories, and a fair bit of cautious optimism.
Bully and Red Dead rumours keep resurfacing
The Bully fanbase is nothing if not persistent. Every few months, a thread or comment somewhere kicks off the speculation train, hoping Rockstar is working on either a remake or long-awaited sequel to the 2006 cult classic. So far? Crickets.
But if we’re playing the odds, there’s one safer bet: a native current-gen upgrade of Red Dead Redemption 2. Originally released back in 2018, the critically acclaimed western epic is technically playable on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S via backward compatibility. That said, players already on these systems have been craving a native version with upgraded visuals, performance boosts, and quality-of-life tweaks to match modern standards.
And let’s be honest: if Rockstar’s already knee-deep in porting efforts, RDR2 makes total sense as the next step.
Delay jitters: Should we be worried about GTA 6?
Let’s not lose sight of the mainline story here: GTA 6 has already been delayed.
Originally teased for a Fall 2025 release after that jaw-dropping trailer landed in December 2023, Rockstar confirmed earlier this year that the game would now launch on May 26, 2026. The delay admittedly dampened excitement, but Rockstar insisted it needed more time to meet its own high standards. Classic Rockstar move, and honestly, most fans would probably rather wait than receive a rushed product.
That said, given Rockstar’s reputation for perfectionism, some folks worry the delay could stretch even further into 2026. But Zelnick is doubling down. In the same interview with CNBC, he insisted his “level of conviction” on the May 2026 date is strong, suggesting a second delay is unlikely… for now, at least.
The bottom line: Rockstar’s creative engine is still running
Here’s the takeaway: Rockstar isn’t just about GTA, even if that franchise remains its crown jewel. Despite the monumental effort required to ship the next instalment in the legendary open-world crime saga, the studio appears to be planting seeds elsewhere, too.
Could we see a surprise teaser for a Bully sequel or a Red Dead 2 remaster in the next year or so? It’s hard to say. Rockstar has always kept its cards close to its denim-clad vest. But this newest insight straight from Take-Two gives fans more to speculate over, and more reasons to believe that life after (or alongside) GTA 6 is alive and well at Rockstar HQ.