Rockstar Games has disclosed that it had initially intended to work on GTA 6 simultaneously with Red Dead Redemption 2, which could have resulted in an earlier release. However, the scope of Red Dead 2 necessitated a shift in focus, ultimately postponing GTA 6’s development. Rockstar North’s Rob Nelson mentioned that the extensive work done on Red Dead 2 would greatly benefit GTA 6, especially in terms of NPC interactions and various game systems derived from the western sequel. Due to this strategic decision, GTA 6's progress slowed down significantly. Although Rockstar's earliest public release window for the title was set for 2025, fans might have seen it released in the early 2020s if development had continued in tandem. The company faced multiple delays, which surprised Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive. The developer has continually worked to improve internal processes and support for future projects, hoping to avert such lengthy development cycles again. Additionally, the team has been researching and planning GTA 6 since 2014, gradually shaping its vision, though a full story framework didn't come together until late 2019.