Eager to know more about GTA 6? Nicely, you’re not the one one. The much-anticipated subsequent installment within the Grand Theft Auto franchise could not have been formally introduced by developer Rockstar Video games but however followers are excited and speculating.
Whereas pleasure over a recreation that hasn’t been formally introduced but may appear a little bit untimely or optimistic ,Grand Theft Auto 6 is not merely a pipe dream. A report by Kotaku claims {that a} "new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series" was within the early phases of its improvement again in April 2020, resulting in hypothesis that this could possibly be GTA 6. Nevertheless, given latest reviews counsel the sport could possibly be taking a look at a 2024/5 launch date, it is most likely going to be a while earlier than we be taught more.
Other than these reviews, it simply is smart that there could be one other entry within the long-running series—GTA 5 continues to be a roaring success and is ready to obtain an expanded and enhanced version subsequent 12 months. This isn't a franchise that’s in decline.
Nonetheless, with Rockstar Video games and its guardian firm Take-Two resolutely protecting quiet on the subject of a possible Grand Theft Auto 6, there are subsequent to no strong particulars on the market - however there are a lot of rumors to dissect. Learn on for all the most important GTA 6 news and rumors up to now.
GTA 6: lower to the chase
- What's GTA 6? The rumored subsequent entry within the Grand Theft Auto series
- When is GTA 6 popping out? That’s the web’s largest thriller (however seemingly not quickly)
- What platforms will GTA 6 launch on? TBC however seemingly Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC
- The place will GTA 6 be set? TBC, however there's loads of rumors (scroll down for more)
GTA 6 launch date: when is GTA 6 popping out?
So when is GTA 6 popping out? Sadly, the brand new GTA 6 hasn't even been formally introduced, by no means thoughts given a launch date. That signifies that there's not a lot to go on from developer Rockstar Video games about Grand Theft Auto 6 for the time being, but it surely doesn't suggest that we have not received a tough thought of once we can count on to get our arms on the brand new GTA.
Evidently it is nonetheless early days for Grand Theft Auto 6, with a Kotaku report claiming that GTA 6, or not less than "a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series," was in early improvement as of April 2020.
Nevertheless, whereas the Kotaku report did not give us an thought of when GTA 6 will launch, writer Take-Two Interactive's advertising and marketing finances could have given us our most strong GTA 6 launch date trace. As reported by VentureBeat, Take-Two's 10-K SEC filing (which lays out monetary plans for the following 5 years) exhibits that the corporate expects to spend $89 million on advertising and marketing between April 2023, and the tip of March 2024 - that is an enormous spike and, because the report factors out, greater than half the advertising and marketing finances anticipated for every other fiscal 12 months over the following decade.
This led business analyst Jeff Cohen to foretell that this spike is as a result of GTA 6 is anticipated to launch inside this era. In a note to traders, included in VentureBeat's report, Cohen identified that earlier advertising and marketing budgets have predicted the releases of different massive releases from Take-Two Interactive, together with Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2. If this prediction is right then we'd count on to see GTA 6 launch someday between April 2023 and March 2024. Initially this spike was anticipated to happen within the fiscal 12 months 2023, nevertheless, it has been pushed again to 2024. If it is GTA 6 that has induced this spike, this might counsel {that a} delay has occurred.
This 2024 spike nearly traces up with leaker Tom Henderson's GTA 6 launch date prediction. The notable leaker, who's primarily recognized for his (largely) correct leaks on Battlefield and Name of Responsibility, posted a video sharing a bunch of alleged GTA 6 particulars. Within the video, Henderson predicts that GTA 6 is not going to launch till between 2024 and 2025, primarily based on his sources.
There are a couple of causes for this, in response to Henderson. The most important is that apparently, Rockstar Video games has been focusing closely on "employee wellbeing" for the previous 15 to 16 months, with the developer aiming to keep away from crunch tradition. Rockstar reportedly would not need to announce the sport till it is assured that it'll hit its launch date, with an purpose to keep away from any delays, however needs to take action with out making staff work extraordinarily lengthy hours to satisfy a deadline.
As well as, Henderson claims that GTA 6 will solely launch on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Given the present PS5 and Xbox Series X shortages, Rockstar Video games is seemingly ready till there's a "big enough market" for these consoles - in different phrases, till the vast majority of gamers can truly get their arms on them.
The third key purpose Henderson gave for this predicted 2024/2025 launch date is the recognition of GTA 5, claiming that Rockstar would seemingly not need to launch GTA 6 whereas its predecessor remains to be so profitable.
Henderson's prediction has since been corroborated by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who mentioned that Henderson's claims "matches up with what I’ve heard".
Whereas a 2024/2025 launch date for Grand Theft Auto 6 is additional away than we'd have hoped, it does make sense when these elements are taken into consideration. It is price noting that Henderson did caveat that he's "not known for GTA 6 leaks" and that viewers ought to take these rumors will a grain of salt
We have been hoping to listen to one thing strong about Grand Theft Auto 6 with the discharge of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, after which once more at E3 2021, however presently, Rockstar appears to be specializing in the expanded and enhanced model of GTA 5 coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X as a substitute of a sequel - which might additionally push a launch date again, particularly given it has been delayed from 2021 to 2022.
Once more, it is price noting that GTA 6 hasn't been confirmed by Rockstar to even be in improvement, so we are able to solely speculate concerning the launch date. With all this in thoughts -and the tight-lipped nature of Rockstar - we most likely should not count on to get our arms on GTA 6 any time quickly, nor can we count on an announcement for some time but.
GTA 6 trailer: when can I watch one?
The factor about Rockstar Video games is that it’s an extremely secretive developer. No GTA 6 trailer is getting out of that studio until somebody critically screws up.
Simply have a look at what Rockstar did with each GTA 5 and Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2. It teased an announcement a couple of days earlier than dropping the primary trailer for both recreation.
If there’s a Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, you’ll learn about it as a result of the web will explode – and we'll let you recognize too, in fact. However we're not anticipating one anytime quickly.
It is seemingly we are going to see Rockstar following the identical sample as with earlier video games, publishing a teaser a couple of days forward of a full announcement trailer.
GTA 6 map: the place and when will GTA 6 be set?
So what concerning the GTA 6 map? There is a plethora of rumors floating round suggesting quite a lot of settings for Grand Theft Auto 6 - making it arduous to nail down which we are going to truly see within the closing recreation. Though there haven’t been any concrete reviews as but, each on-line titbit and juicy gossip morsel is pointing in direction of GTA 6’s map being completely huge. We’re even not speaking city-size huge, we’re speaking doubtlessly the whole lot of the USA huge.
One of many largest Grand Theft Auto 6 setting rumors has come from YouTube channel The Know, which claimed that GTA 6 is being developed beneath the code identify Undertaking Americas. The rationale for this code identify is seemingly as a result of gamers will be capable to fly between the US and South America within the recreation, although the vast majority of the motion will happen within the former. This together with the supply's assertion that the sport will largely be set in Vice Metropolis (the Rockstar model of Miami) suggests there could possibly be a deal with drug-running which might draw on the recognition of exhibits and films like Narcos and Tom Cruise's Made in America. Notably if Rockstar holds on to that 80s setting.
One other, now deleted, put up on Reddit appeared to corroborate among the claims in The Know Report. In response to the Reddit poster behind the leak, the sport, often called Undertaking Americas, has been in manufacturing since 2015, although it was positioned on ice whereas Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2 was the main target. The put up claimed that GTA 6 could possibly be expansive, set throughout a number of a long time (the Nineteen Seventies to Nineteen Eighties) and places (one in all which is Vice Metropolis, one other Liberty Metropolis and one other is a fictional metropolis primarily based on Rio de Janeiro).
The sport will apparently cope with one playable protagonist named Ricardo and play by means of their story as a rising drug lord with heavy inspiration from Netflix's Narcos series. The story will allegedly be advised by means of chapters, with a heavy emphasis on the visuals of modifications in time because the story progresses. Whereas there isn't any estimated launch date given, the put up says that the plan is to launch the sport for the following era solely (a declare that a number of reviews have corroborated).
Whereas it is unlikely that the entire report is true (even the poster says that the sport's pre-alpha standing means issues are prone to change) that is to not say some components are not possible.
Following these rumors, since early 2020, a series of 'leaked' photos have been rising on-line that allegedly reveal sections of the general GTA 6 map - and line up with the Undertaking Americas rumor. Thus far there have been 4 map leaks in whole, every showing to point out a unique part of the general map. Followers have speculated about what every part of the map could also be with places rumored together with Rio De Janeiro, the Everglades and Colombia.
Nevertheless, leaker Tom Henderson claims that, whereas Vice Metropolis might be coming to GTA 6 in some capability, because the Undertaking Americas rumor claims, that the map is not as massive as earlier rumors declare.
As well as, Henderson claims that GTA 6 will not be set be within the 80s or 90s, however as a substitute may have a contemporary setting. That is apparently to permit the bottom recreation to "fit" with GTA Online, with builders wanting "as much freedom as possible to release as many DLCs as possible".
One other, barely much less plausible, rumor posted anonymously on Pastebin - which has since been eliminated (by way of Comic Book) - claimed that GTA 6 will permit gamers to journey between a number of massive cities, together with Liberty Metropolis and Vice Metropolis. The poster additionally claimed you begin off as a small-time drug runner earlier than becoming a member of an notorious gang and kicking it with the massive canines.
The nameless poster additionally claimed GTA 6 will characteristic each main cities together with an unlimited stretch of highways and Blaine County-like countryside in the midst of all of it.
Whereas location rumors appear to be leaking in abundance, the nameless Pastebin put up was backed up by overview on Glassdoor by a Rockstar Video games QA tester, which has since been eliminated (by way of Dexerto). The put up left a cryptic message that seen the primary letter of every sentence spelling out 'GTA6LSVCLC'. This can be pointing to the potential places of Grand Theft Auto 6: Los Santos, Vice Metropolis, and Liberty Metropolis.
Surprise what these places would appear like collectively as an precise map? Graphic designer RealityDesign posted an idea picture on GTA Boards, exhibiting what this map might doubtlessly appear like. Test it out beneath:
There was additionally a rumor that GTA 6 could be set in London, which began with a remark from Rockstar Video games’ co-founder Dan Houser from an interview with Polygon again in September 2013:
“At the moment, it feels like GTA’s DNA is contemporary-ish, American-ish, English-speaking-ish, because that’s what it has been… But that doesn’t necessarily limit it to those, that’s just what we’ve done so far.”
Nevertheless, Houser then shot down a London setting in an interview with The Guardian later that month.
Flying within the face of many of those rumors, a report by Christian Today claims that GTA 6 may have a futuristic setting. The Christian At this time report additionally alleges that there may even be time journey concerned within the subsequent GTA title.
For what it is price, we predict this might most likely plant it a bit too near Saint's Row, which is already extremely just like Grand Theft Auto and that is most likely one thing Rockstar could be eager to keep away from.
For our cash, we predict a return to Vice Metropolis in some kind is on the playing cards, which might tie into the rumors talked about above. However, outdoors of that, the place precisely GTA 6 might be set nonetheless stays a thriller for now.
GTA 6 news and rumors: what do we all know up to now?
Under we have collected the entire newest leaks and rumors that trace at when GTA 6 could be launched – and what we are able to count on from the brand new recreation. As all the time, take these particulars with an enormous pinch of salt – some are outdated, some are from now-deleted sources and others may simply be eager followers getting carried away.
GTA 5 Enhanced Version delayed
Rockstar’s GTA 5 Enhanced Version has been delayed to March 2022. The announcement was made throughout the PlayStation Showcase 2021 and means the sport gained’t hit its unique launch date of November 11, 2021. A purpose for the delay hasn’t been given however followers are involved that this delay might imply that GTA 6 is even additional off than we might have ever imagined.
GTA 6 is already rumored to be launched no sooner than 2024/2025, and it is logical to suppose that GTA 5's delay will solely push it again. We will solely hope that is not the case.
Instagram sparks one other Vice Metropolis rumor
Vice Metropolis setting rumors are selecting up as soon as once more after a latest Instagram put up made by a Rockstar worker. The put up (by way of GamesRadar) was made by soundtrack supervisor and music supervisor Tony Mesones. Mesones has labored at Rockstar for round a decade and has offered music for a variety of titles together with GTA V and Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2. His Instagram put up exhibits Miami's South Seashore and is captioned “who said it would be cold???”
As many have identified, this might merely be keen followers studying far an excessive amount of into a vacation photograph, although others have famous that Mesones tagged Rockstar Video games within the put up suggesting it could possibly be a work-related journey.
Mesones’ put up isn’t actually proof of something, although Miami does line up with earlier reviews that the sport will go to Vice Metropolis in some capability, the Grand Theft Auto situated closely influenced by Miami. Given reviews that the sport might have a tough launch window of 2025, we’ll seemingly be ready fairly a very long time earlier than we discover out if that is only a vacation snap or one thing more.
Vice Metropolis map and actions 'leak' - not going
Rumors all level to Vice Metropolis taking part in a task in GTA 6 in some capability, however a leak claims to point out a glimpse of the Vice Metropolis map together with among the actions gamers can partake in together with bowling.
The video exhibits a shakey have a look at a display allegedly exhibiting the map and is prone to be faux, with notable leaker Tom Henderson even stating that he "wouldn't expect any leaks like this for a couple of years".
2025 launch date wanting seemingly
GTA 6 is prone to launch throughout 2025, in response to a number of sources. Tom Henderson was the primary to counsel {that a} 2025 launch date was on the playing cards, and his claims have been corroborated by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who mentioned that "Everything Tom Henderson has said about the game matches up with that I've heard" on Twitter, including that the sport is "still in early development".
A number of playable characters, an evolving GTA Online map and more
Notable leaker Tom Henderson, who's primarily recognized for his (largely) correct leaks on Battlefield and Name of Responsibility, just lately posted a video sharing a bunch of alleged GTA 6 particulars.
Along with a 2024/2025 launch date prediction and claims of a contemporary setting, Henderson additionally shared another alleged particulars on GTA 6 that he has picked up from his sources.
The leaker claims that GTA 6 will take the identical method to GTA 5 and have "multiple playable characters", together with one feminine character who is ready to be the "bright one", with a deal with expertise and hacking.
But it surely's not simply GTA 6 that Henderson shared particulars on. The leaker claims that GTA Online, accompanying GTA 6's launch, will characteristic an evolving map that would change every time new GTA 6 DLC is launched. Henderson in contrast this map to that of Fortnite's and in addition claimed that GTA 6's launch will see additions made to the "default" GTA Online map, together with new areas and an enlargement to the map.
It is price noting that Henderson did caveat that he's "not known for GTA 6 leaks" and that viewers ought to take these rumors will a grain of salt, as his sources could also be "less reliable" than these of his Name of Responsibility and Battlefield leaks.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5kSp88_a2Y[/embed]
An in-game reveal?
Although GTA 6 wasn’t unveiled throughout E3 2021, a latest job itemizing has fuelled current rumors that it is going to be revealed throughout a GTA Online occasion, an method video games like Name of Responsibility have had success with previously.
Constructing on previous rumors that Rockstar would use GTA Online updates to market GTA 6, this latest Rockstar job listing (by way of GameRant) for a Stay Operations Coordinator exhibits that the developer in search of somebody to “be responsible for executing all in-game marketing campaigns for Red Dead Online and Grand Theft Auto Online. This is a full-time, permanent position based in our Soho, Manhattan studio.”
This could, in fact, be taken with a pinch of salt as neither Rockstar nor Take-Two have mentioned something about any plans to disclose GTA 6 within the GTA Online world and having a Stay Operations Coordinator isn't any assure of this occurring.
GTA 6 might reward you in cryptocurrency as a substitute of money
Tom Henderson, a widely known Name of Responsibility and Battlefield leaker, claimed on Twitter that he is just lately heard that a few of GTA 6's missions will reward gamers in in-game funds of bitcoin reasonably than money.
In response to Henderson, bitcoin would not change money as in-game foreign money, however as a substitute would sit alongside it. Henderson claims that the inventory market will make a return in GTA 6, with the addition of a dealer for various cryptocurrencies.
These bitcoin funds apparently be rewarded for each mission however as a substitute might be rewarded by more high-profile characters who need to transfer excessive quantities of "untraceable cash and fast".
This in-game foreign money will apparently not be known as bitcoin, however will nonetheless be a type of cryptocurrency.
I heard just lately that in GTA 6, some missions will reward you in bitcoin as a substitute of money for finishing some missions. The inventory market characteristic will return, with the addition of a dealer for various cryptocurrencies. If GTA 6 incorporates this proper, it is large for crypto.June 3, 2021
GTA 6 Florida and Cuba setting rumor has been debunked
One other main GTA 6 rumor has been debunked. The rumor initially appeared on a put up on The Medium, by a poster known as Tim McDowell who wrote a 'deep dive' on the (confirmed to be correct) rumors round Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2. The piece additionally included photos from 4Chan with apparently 'leaked' particulars about GTA 6. These particulars claimed the sport could be set in Cuba and Florida, and echoed leaker Tom Henderson's claims the following GTA may have a feminine protagonist.
However, after a suspicious fan (ADropInTheOcean) on the GTA boards did some digging, they discovered that the put up was filled with false data and the pictures had been photoshopped. Primarily, the entire article has been a troll. Seemingly realizing that they had been came upon, McDowell has since updated The Medium article to a meme.
Hypothesis addressed by Take-Two Interactive
Sadly, Rockstar Video games' guardian firm, Take-Two Interactive, is remaining tight-lipped concerning the prospect of GTA 6 and once we might get our arms on it.
When {asked} by an keen investor about GTA, throughout the Morgan Stanley Expertise, Media & Telecom Convention final week (by way of Comic Book), Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick reiterated that GTA 6 hasn't been confirmed and that he would not be the one to spill the beans on it.
"Right, so, Rockstar hasn’t announced any new titles for the market and when there’s an announcement to be made it’ll come from Rockstar, so I’ll probably leave you there and I don’t think you would have expected anything else,” Zelnick responded.
It's not exactly what we wanted to hear, but it does mean that we can expect Rockstar Games to make its own GTA 6 announcement when the time comes - rather than the game being announced to investors during one of these meetings.
Take-Two CEO commits to single-player experiences
Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two, has said that Rockstar Games will continue to make single-player games, which is likely to be welcome news to those hoping that GTA 6 will offer a single-player experience despite the success of GTA Online.
In a Q3 2021 earnings call (via GameSpot), Zelnick said, “The folks at Rockstar Games intended to create a powerful single-player experience a story-driven experience. And Rockstar has always been known for great stories and great single-player experiences and then developed in addition, a massive multiplayer opportunity over the past years”, adding that Rockstar’s success with both single and multiplayer games is proof that it can have both rather than just one.
This lines up with a 2020 GQ interview with Rockstar’s Tarek Hamad and Scott Butchard. When asked if Rockstar will continue to tell single-player stories even as Online continues, Hamad replied “Absolutely” and Butchard intimated that it could even become more a part of the Online experience, saying “I think you can see that with Online and I think going forward we’re going to inject more of that single-player element in there.”
Job listing pointing to a possible trailer?
It seems unlikely There has been some excitement in the GTA 6 community after a job posting for a “Cinematic Gameplay Capture Artist” was spotted at Rockstar (via ScreenRant). The description of the role notes that the person would be responsible for shooting the in-game footage that's used for putting together digital and TV advertising campaigns, which has led some to wonder if a GTA 6 trailer could be on the horizon.
With this one, we think it’s probably best to lower expectations. Given there’s a GTA 5 port coming to the latest generation of consoles, it seems more likely that this job will have something to do with the marketing campaign around that launch later this year rather than anything to do with the still-technically-unannounced GTA 6.
New patent suggests smarter NPCs
A new patent filed by Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two could point to GTA 6 having improved AI for its NPCs. The patent attempts to trademark a “system and method for virtual navigation in a gaming environment“ and was filed by the publisher in October 2020.
The main focus of the patent is on the ways NPCs move around and react to environments, with a particular emphasis on driving NPCs, highlighting that the conventional systems only have “limited resources” when it comes to automating NPCs. The tech in the patent would make it possible to create “a realistic virtual world that is not limited by hardware or software limitations.”
It might, for example, see NPCs have different driver profiles for more realistic and natural behavior, meaning speed limits could be dynamically adhered to, and non-moving objects, such as street lights or car crashes, could be recognized and responded to accordingly. Driving NPCs might also dynamically react to things like traffic jams or high-speed chases and find another route around the game map.
The patent also takes into consideration more general driving skills, like a better understanding of vehicle handling when moving at top speed, and braking times, for an overall more realistic on-the-road experience.
Of course, it should be noted that the patent was filed by Take-Two and therefore isn’t necessarily about GTA 6 - it could be about any of the publisher’s games. However, one promising sign that it relates to the GTA franchise is that the system’s inventors are David Hynd and Simon Parr who work at Rockstar in the roles of associate director of technology and lead AI programmer.
As with any patent, there's no guarantee that it'll be applied in a final product, but it does seem likely that this system was created with Grand Theft Auto 6, or at least Grand Theft Auto Online, in mind.
Former insider reality check
Those who are hoping to get their hands on Grand Theft Auto 6 sometime soon may be disappointed by a recent tweet from former Rockstar insider Yan2295. Dismissing rumors that the game might be coming soon, they tweeted to say that while the game “is being developed”, it’s “not coming soon”. Nor do they have any idea when it will be announced or released. Even though we should always take statements that don’t come from Rockstar itself with a pinch of salt, this one does at least seem fairly realistic, if extremely vague, as it doesn’t certainly doesn't look like Grand Theft Auto 6 is going to be coming anytime soon.
Sure GTA 6 is being developped. No it is not coming quickly. No I do not know when it is gonna be introduced or launched. You possibly can cease asking now.January 2, 2021
GTA Online update has fans looking for clues
A recent teaser posted by Rockstar for the new GTA Online update has kicked up some GTA 6 rumors.
In the teaser, fans spotted a set of GPS coordinates which, when entered into Google Maps, lead to a dirt road in Virginia. This might seem like nothing but some fans think that the road is shaped like the Roman numeral for 6, “VI”, and is, therefore, a direct reference to Grand Theft Auto 6 by Rockstar. It seems like a stretch and Rockstar hasn't said anything either way, but it’s a clear sign that fans are hungry for GTA 6 news.
After I searched this location on Map , it confirmed a spot in North America and the roads course have been within the {shape} of VI ..... #GTAVI #GTA6 #GTAOnline pic.twitter.com/5rlyW8RFo1November 20, 2020
GTA 6 and Vice City Online domains updated
It doesn't take much for GTA 6 rumors to take off so Take-Two Interactive renewing a couple of relevant domain names will certainly do it. A user of Reddit (via GamesRadar) pointed out in August 2020 that the publishing parent of Rockstar renewed its ownership of the domain names gtavicecityonline and gtavi.
It's worth bearing in mind that companies often claim domain names related to their products even when they have no intention of ever using them, so we shouldn't take this too much to heart. We won't know anything for sure until Rockstar starts making some official announcements.
GTA 5 Online's continued success won't necessarily stop GTA 6
GTA 5 Online has been a huge success for a while now and naturally, this has left some wondering if that success could hold up any potential GTA 6 release. According to GamesIndustry.biz, in May 2020 Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked in an interview at the Bernstein Annual Strategic Decisions Conference if the publisher would "suppose twice" about launching a new game when the live service game is still performing well.
Zelnick could not be persuaded to comment on release plans for a game that hasn't been announced. However, he did touch on a time Take-Two has faced a similar dilemma with NBA 2K Online.
According to Zelnick, Take-Two had NBA 2K Online in China and it was performing well but when it came time to update the game and they released NBA 2K Online 2 "it turned out to be a large hit". Take-Two found that "the viewers was nonetheless steady and rising for NBA 2K Online itself, the primary title. So we saved them each up and so they're each as much as this present day.“
In response to GamesIndustry.biz, Zelnick went on to say “Any time you have a look at a enterprise and you are taking the place, 'That is nice, it is the present that retains on giving. I am simply going to keep it up and I am not going to fret about innovating as a result of everybody loves what we've got,' you might be simply moments away from being destroyed by your rivals," adding “I am not remotely worried about being in a position that we have a great line of live services and a new release and that there's somehow maybe some internal competition. That to me is the definition of a high-class problem.”
Although Zelnick was not commenting on GTA 6 directly, his comments do suggest that GTA 5 Online's success wouldn't necessarily stop Take-Two moving forward with a new instalment in the series.
The next step for GTA could be VR
GTA in VR? It could be on the cards if a posting on LinkedIn from an Australian development studio is anything to go by. In the post, Video Games Deluxe shared that it's "now gearing up for a brand new venture, a AAA open-world title in VR for Rockstar. 2020 marks our seventh 12 months of working solely for Rockstar in Sydney and we're excited to taking up this groundbreaking venture."
The studio has history with Rockstar, having worked on the VR adaption of L.A. Noire for PC and PSVR so this doesn't seem unlikely.
The question is what game will be getting the VR treatment. We can say right away we don't think it's likely that GTA 6 will be coming out of the gates in VR. An older title seems more likely and GTA 5 is the lead contender.
The game seems to be perpetually popular and an expanded and enhanced version has already been confirmed for PS5, which could mean PSVR 2 involvement.
The good news for GTA 6 hopefuls is that this project is with an entirely different studio so if GTA 6 is in development, this VR project isn't likely to derail anything.
GTA 5 enhanced edition
GTA 5 is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X in November 2021, Sony has announced. The game will be enhanced and expanded, and feature a range of visual upgrades and improvements to performance that will take full advantage of the next-gen beefy hardware.
GTA Online will also continue, with additional content that’s exclusive to Sony’s new console. A standalone version of GTA Online will also be made available for free, exclusively for PlayStation 5 players during the first three months.
While this is welcome news for GTA 5 fans, it suggests we probably won't see GTA 6 release until at least after mid-2021 and makes those reports of a 2023 or 2024 release seem more likely.
GTA 6 release date might have been discovered - and it's bad news
As reported by VentureBeat, Take-Two's 10-K SEC filing (which lays out financial plans for the next five years) shows that the company expects to spend $89 million on marketing between April 2023, and the end of March 2024 - that's a huge spike and, as the report points out, more than half the marketing budget expected for any other fiscal year over the next decade.
This has led industry analyst Jeff Cohen to predict that this spike is because GTA 6 is expected to release within this period.
In a note to investors, included in VentureBeat's report, Cohen pointed out that previous marketing budgets have predicted the releases of other big releases from Take-Two Interactive, including Red Dead Redemption 2.
"We aren't certain how a lot we must be studying into this shift, however we'd notice that this disclosure precisely predicted the launch of Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2 previous to that recreation’s announcement," the note reads. "Administration has spoken very confidently concerning the pipeline over the following 5 years and current stay companies execution has been glorious. Nevertheless, the timing of the following Grand Theft Auto stays top-of-mind for traders, significantly with the inventory close to all-time highs."
If this prediction is correct then we would expect to see GTA 6 release sometime between April 2023 and March 2024. Originally this spike was expected to take place in the fiscal year 2023, however, it's been pushed back to 2024. If it is GTA 6 that has caused this spike, this would suggest that a delay has incurred - potentially due to Covid-19.
Take-Two Interactive has 93 games in the works
Grand Theft Auto publisher, Take-Two Interactive, has revealed it has 93 "full recreation releases" deliberate for the following 5 years – and we're hoping GTA 6 is one in all them.
Throughout an earnings name (by way of GamesRadar), Take-Two president Karl Slatoff mentioned that this line-up is the strongest within the firm's historical past, however what can we count on? Nicely, in response to Slatoff, 63 of those video games are "core gaming experiences", 17 will be "mid-core or arcade" and 13 are casual games.
However, out of these 93 games, 21 will be exclusively mobile titles - with the other 72 landing on PC, consoles and streaming platforms. But, perhaps the most interesting stat from this meeting is that half of this games line-up is from existing IPs. Suggesting we could be seeing GTA 6 in that five-year window, with the highly-anticipated next GTA falling into that "core gaming experiences" category.
"This can be a bigger pipeline than we have had earlier than, we have been speaking about this for fairly a while. Our expectation is that we might wish to sustain this velocity," Slatoff said. "It is actually necessary for us to construct scale, and that is a method that we're doing it. We'd like more at-bats."
CEO Strauss Zelnick explained that the publisher plans to smooth out its financial results with "a handful or better of recent important releases yearly". And it looks like the company believes it may have some big successes in the pipeline.
"With our robust catalogue, with our stay service choices, and with our annual releases, we are able to have nice energy, even in a lightweight 12 months, although it is not our purpose to have a lightweight 12 months, after which do even higher within the 12 months once we're in a position to launch a variety of titles, which is our technique, and even higher than that if we're lucky sufficient to have a blockbuster title. And we've got a few of these as nicely," Zelnick said.
Story reportedly finished
The story for Rockstar’s GTA 6 is apparently finished if a supposed insider is to be believed.
Chris ‘Liberty93’ from Rockstar Magazine (a French fansite) claims the story for Grand Theft Auto 6 was wrapped up previous to the departure of Rockstar’s head author, Dan Houser, and that the following GTA entry will nonetheless have the “soul” of a typical Rockstar recreation.
Though a completed story may counsel a launch date for GTA 6 is shut, Chris did level out that many modifications have been made to Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2’s story throughout improvement, regardless of it being 'accomplished' approach again in 2012.
“They still made changes in late 2017, early 2018, and many little details were modified," Chris explained.
Reports of early development
It seems that Grand Theft Auto 6 is in the early stages of its development if a report from Kotaku is anything to go by (as of 2020). In the report which is primarily following up on the cultural changes that have taken place at Rockstar after a previous investigation into crunch at the studio, Kotaku has touched on the studio's future, including the fact that studio management has outlined a plan for "a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series".
The report goes on to say that this new installment is planned to be a "moderately sized release" (so, probably still pretty big) which will be "expanded with regular updates over time". The hope is that this approach will lessen stress and crunch.
It's worth noting, though, that the report emphasizes that the game is still in the very early development stages so plans could quite easily change over time as the development process evolves.
Take-Two plays down AAA releases
In an earnings call for Take-Two Interactive – the publisher that owns GTA developer Rockstar – shareholders were told to expect the "most robust pipeline" in the company's history. However, Take-Two CEO Strauss H. Zelnick also stressed that some years would be thin on releases – which, given the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, doesn't make us hopeful for any new GTA titles in the coming year.
"Given that we're a company that depends on our creative teams to make as close to perfect products as possible," said Zelnick, "we have to be willing to live with the vagaries of product deliveries. And that means, sometimes, we will have thin frontline years."
Dan Houser leaves Rockstar
Revealed in a statement by Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive, Houser (who was has been on an extended leave period since spring 2019) will be officially leaving the company on March 11. His brother Sam Houser remains present as president.
Houser, who has variously acted as writer, producer and voice actor at Rockstar, led Rockstar Games to become one of the biggest developers in the industry. It's currently unknown whether this will have an impact on GTA 6's development.
CJ voice actor dismisses rumors
Chris Bellard, the voice actor for GTA San Andreas' character CJ, has debunked rumors that he will be reprising his role in GTA 6. Using Instagram, Bellard posted that he's "not involved in GTA VI at all".
This doesn't rule out the return of CJ as a character entirely (Rockstar could always cast someone else in the role) but it does confirm that Bellard isn't involved and doesn't intend to be if asked.
Rockstar hasn't commented on rumors and we won't know anything certain about the cast for GTA 6 until it speaks out.
Scouting areas in Florida
Speculation around a Florida setting – even a game that encompassed the whole state – has been brimming after a leaked letter was given legitimacy by a well-regarded Rockstar leaker, @Yan2295.
The letter was to a Florida store asking permission for Rockstar Games to inspect the premises, presumably for use or inspiration in the forthcoming game – mentioning a location scout Leah Sokolowsky who hinted at a large digital media client in a podcast back in May 2019 (via Daily Star).
Take inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2
The same leak posted on Pastebin, that claimed GTA 6 will allow players to travel between several big cities, including Liberty City and Vice City, also claimed GTA 6 will take inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2 and won't release on current-gen consoles.
The post claims Rockstar is waiting to see how the new consoles sell as GTA 6 wouldn't be able to be released on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One due to memory restrictions. In addition, the post claims that the game will be set in a timed era and that there will be flashbacks between missions and Red Dead Redemption 2-type stranger dialogues that implement the greet/antagonize format.
GTA 6 is coming and there are ideas
What we do know about GTA 6 is that ideas are being thrown around for development, even if it’s just in the early stages. Rockstar President Leslie Benzies teased the game in an interview back in 2013 with Develop magazine.
“We don’t know what GTA 6 will be, but we’ve got some ideas,” mentioned Benzies within the interview.
Okay, so it’s not a lot, but it surely’s definitely a snippet of strong data direct from the supply. Benzies went on to speak about what sort of concepts get the artistic juices flowing over at Rockstar.
“We’ve got about 45 years’ worth of ideas we want to do,” he added. “We’ll decide the best ones," Benzies said. “It comes from the idea first. Where it is going to be set is the first question. That then defines the missions; you’re doing different things in LA than in New York or Miami. The map and story get worked up together, and the story is a basic flow of how it works out so you can layer the mission in.”
We’re just pleased that Rockstar has so many ideas for what it wants to do with GTA 6. We just hope it sorts them into some kind of organized system and gets that game to us sharpish.
GTA 6 could be the last GTA game
This is more informed speculation from Tom Henderson than anything concrete. But we've included a lot of his predictions and leaks in this guide, so felt it was only right to flag his latest theory recently published on Dualshockers: GTA6 could be the last GTA title.
He acknowledges it would be a shame for such a huge franchise to end but suggests that, with GTA Online's huge popularity and a continuously evolving map, there might not be a reason for Rockstar Games to ever follow up GTA6.
"Rockstar appears to be making GTA 6 essentially the most epic future-proof online game in historical past, with fixed updates that not solely give the followers new content material however retains the world new and attention-grabbing by evolving," he writes.
