So much for announcing Grand Theft Auto 6 out of nowhere, eh? Unlike Red Dead Redemption 2, which it “announced” out of nowhere all those years ago with a mere banner change, Rockstar Games is pulling out all the stops for the next Grand Theft Auto game.
The next installment in the groundbreaking and culture-defining franchise, which it officially acknowledged last year, is going to get its first trailer as early as December, possibly at The Game Awards on December 7. And, while it has been the talk of the entire internet for the past few years, especially over the past two months as Grand Theft Auto 5 turned 10, the most recent source, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, is easily the most credible leak we’ve gotten about the game during the same period.
What makes this leak particularly interested is that Rockstar is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary next month. This is a strategic timing that looks to capitalize on the perfect storm – a plan befitting the follow-up to the second-best-selling video game of all time.
Rockstar has maintained a shroud of secrecy over GTA 6 over the past few years, forcing fans to dissect every potential clue and rumor. The anticipation only intensified since last year’s leak that showcased footage purportedly from an early build that confirmed that the sequel would return to the iconic Vice City, inspired by Miami, and featuring a male and a female protagonist. The developers later confirmed the rumors, with the culprit eventually getting caught.
If Bloomberg’s sources are correct (which, they usually are), fans may not have to rely on leaks and rumors much longer.
The success of GTA V, which has sold over 185 million copies since its release in 2013, sets a high bar for its successor. It’s believed that GTA 6 has already cost Rockstar billions to make but it’s expected to make just as much in revenue in less than a week. While this figure seems insurmountable, don’t forget that Hogwarts Legacy made nearly as much in a week earlier this year while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 wasn’t far behind in its record-setting launch last year. Finally, GTA 5 made over a billion by the time it was a week old, surpassing the figure in its first three days.
With Take-Two Interactive expecting GTA 6 to set a new “creative benchmark” in the entertainment industry, it’ safe to say that expectations for the game are high.
Then again, the actual numbers that GTA 6 may post may even be much higher than what most could ever imagine. The massive success of GTA Online will likely contribute significantly to both short- and long-term revenue.
Of course, while Bloomberg has proven itself several times already in the past, we can’t say for sure until we get official word. The good news is that Schreier’s sources claim that Rockstar could announce GTA 6 as early as before November 12 ahead of the official trailer release next month. If true, the internet will have to spend the next month sleeping less and being hypervigilant every time they hear about GTA.
Speaking of GTA 6, a former Rockstar developer recently mentioned that he’d prefer Rockstar to go smaller than bigger for the upcoming game. While we can’t confirm nor deny GTA 6’s size, a recent leak does imply that it will be the best-looking entry in the franchise yet.
Rockstar is currently working on GTA 6 and a pair of Max Payne remakes with Remedy Entertainment.
