Grand Theft Auto 6 slipping down the calendar has not only shaken up Rockstar’s plans, it has also opened a clear lane for several other big releases. IO Interactive’s James Bond game, 007: First Light, is one of the main beneficiaries, and its studio head is openly pleased with the breathing room, even if he still sees GTA 6 as a key event that could re-energize the entire market.

GTA 6 is now scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, which means many publishers and studios can breathe a little easier: they no longer need to launch their games shoulder-to-shoulder with Rockstar’s juggernaut. Practically the whole year is now free of direct competition with the crime epic, although the November holiday window will still be a minefield for any game daring to land near it. Among those who have clearly come out ahead is IO Interactive, the Danish team behind the Hitman series.

The 007 Game Has Benefited From The Delay Of GTA 6

IO Interactive plans to release 007: First Light on March 27, 2026, and everything points to it being one of next year’s flagship titles. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, studio CEO Hakan Abrak openly admitted that GTA 6’s delay creates a favorable scenario for the Bond adventure. As he put it, “it would be a lie to say that spring isn’t looking pretty good right now”. Without a giant like GTA 6 looming over that part of the calendar, there is simply more space, attention, and marketing oxygen for a big-budget game like 007: First Light.

At the same time, Abrak stressed that, in the long run, the entire industry stands to gain from GTA 6 finally arriving. He believes Rockstar’s next open-world title can act as a gateway for lapsed or less active players, pulling millions of people back into gaming and convincing many of them to finally jump to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. According to a number of analysts, a release of that magnitude can have a halo effect, lifting hardware sales as well as the performance of other games that launch in the same general window. Several market watchers have argued that GTA 6, despite the competitive pressure it creates, will ultimately be a net positive for the business.

An event title of this scale dominates conversation well beyond the core gaming crowd, puts video games back in the broader cultural spotlight, and can create waves that other AAA projects ride to higher sales. For 007: First Light specifically, the situation is almost ideal: the Bond game arrives well before GTA 6 hits stores, giving it room to own a relatively quiet spring, and it can still benefit later from the overall buzz surrounding Rockstar’s behemoth. IO Interactive is far from the only studio that reacted with relief when GTA 6 moved. The team behind Ghost of Yotei reportedly celebrated internally when it became clear that Sony’s samurai-flavored title would launch in a much less crowded window.

This gives them a realistic shot at selling millions of copies without immediately competing for attention with a more commercially explosive game. In contrast, some publishers, particularly on the Xbox side, are staring down a far trickier 2026. Microsoft is lining up a packed slate for the year, with a Halo remake, the next Call of Duty, Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Gears of War: E-Day all penciled in. For them, the November arrival of GTA 6 adds a serious layer of risk to an already crowded schedule. With so many heavy hitters in play, the exact timing of each launch could end up making the difference between a hit and a disappointment.

Source: 3djuegos