'It's a huge scandal': GTA VI delay row reaches Polish parliament

Was it a joke? Maybe. Yet, it really happened.

GTA VI's new delay is no longer just an issue for the fans of the popular video game series; it has now landed in parliament. To be precise, the Polish parliament.

During a recent session, a member of the KWiN opposition party (Confederation Liberty and Independence) took the floor to speak out against the new postponement.

"As part of my parliamentary statement, I wanted to inform you about a very disturbing matter. An hour ago, Rockstar Games announced that the release of GTA VI will be delayed until next year. This is a huge scandal", said Witold Tumanowicz.

"Honestly, if people don't take to the streets after something like this, I don't know what will happen," the MP added jokingly in his speech at the Polish lower house last week.

Some Polish media slammed the 38-year-old's stunt as an "absurd scene", while social media users took it with a bit more humour.

"Finally, some important topics are being discussed", was one of the comments on X.

Another MP, from the Law and Justice Party, Paweł Szrot, backed his colleague and doubled down: "I respect such statements, Representative. I hope the add-on for Bannerlord (another role-playing video game) doesn't get delayed any further."

What is GTA, and what happened with the new release?

Produced by Rockstar Games, GTA (Grand Theft Auto) is a hugely successful gangster-themed video game series, famous for its violence, strong and coarse language, but also for its well-crafted characters and realism - so much so that it's become a classic pop icon.

Over the years, players of the game have enjoyed settings that have ranged from 1980s Miami to backdrops inspired by Los Angeles' early-2000 ghettos.

The very first title was released in 1997, then six more followed. The franchise is understood to have sold over 450 million copies.

GTA VI has already suffered not one, but two delays.

Initially scheduled for Autumn 2025, the latest announcement says it will only be on sale on 19th November 2026.

The previous chapter - GTA V - hit the shelves 12 years ago, which explains the current sky-high hype and anticipation for the new title.

Rockstar justified the delay with a succinct statement, saying the extra months will allow developers "to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve."