'Red Dead Redemption 2' delayed until 2018

Rockstar Games — makers of the hit action video game series Grand Theft Auto — announced Monday it will delay the launch of its next project, Red Dead Redemption 2, to next year.

The Western-themed adventure was originally scheduled to launch this fall for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but has been pushed back to next spring to give developers more time to work on the game.

In a statement, Rockstar apologized to fans, adding they will share more details on the game this summer.

"This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware," reads Rockstar's statement. "And some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans."

Shares of Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games' publishers, dove nearly 9% in after-hours trading Monday.

The game is a sequel to 2010's Red Dead Redemption, featuring the story of John Marston, who must help federal agents track down his old gang in exchange for the release of his wife and son.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.