007 First Light CEO is glad GTA 6 got delayed since now "spring looks really good," but thinks Rockstar could help "the industry as a whole" once it finally ships its masterpiece

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007 First Light CEO is glad GTA 6 got delayed since now "spring looks really good," but thinks Rockstar could help "the industry as a whole" once it finally ships its masterpiece News By George Young published 21 November 2025

Hakan Abrak thinks the release will encourage people to return to gaming as a hobby

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(Image credit: IO Interactive)

Releasing on March 27, 2026, 007 First Light is one of many games that have dodged a bullet thanks to GTA 6's delay. While IO Interactive's CEO Hakan Abrak is glad to see that the team's game will have some room to breathe, he thinks that Rockstar's long-awaited sequel will be a net good for the industry.

In an interview with GI.biz, Abrak is honest about his feelings on the GTA 6 delay. He says, "It would be a lie not to say that obviously spring looks really good." GTA 6 is now scheduled to be released on November 19, 2026, though as this is the game's second delay, fans aren't as certain that this will be the final launch date.

Abrak may be glad to separate his studio's big launch from Rockstar's, but he still thinks that GTA 6's release is a positive for the industry as a whole. "I want to say in the same breath that GTA 6 is a welcome thing for the industry," he continues. "I do believe a lot of gamers who maybe haven't played for a while will get into things again, and generally for the industry as a whole, I think that will be amazing."

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For those not old enough to remember, GTA 5 was incredibly popular from launch day, with even people who only occasionally play games lining up outside stores at midnight to try Rockstar's latest release. At last count it has sold more than 220 million copies, which is monumental considering that selling a million copies is usually thought to be a huge success.

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES PS5 PC Gaming Nintendo Switch 2 Xbox Series X Platforms PlayStation Nintendo Xbox George YoungSocial Links NavigationFreelance News Writer

Freelance writer, full-time PlayStation Vita enthusiast, and speaker of some languages. I break up my days by watching people I don't know play Pokemon pretty fast.

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