Grand Theft Auto fans have been on the edge of their seats for the better part of the past two years, ever since Rockstar Games confirmed that it’s working on the next GTA. The desire for a new chapter reached fever pitch faster after last year’s leaks, which eventually led to the capture of the culprit. And, while Rockstar Games continues to deliver content for Grand Theft Auto 5, details about GTA 6 remain unknown. With each year that passes, fans become more desperate for even a glimmer of official information, but Rockstar insists on its silence.
October 26, which has come and passed, was the crucible for a collective expectation. Rockstar’s promotional tweet for the Happy Moon Festival in GTA Online featured the conspicuous prominence of “VI”. While this could easily have been dismissed as an ordinary Roman numeral, the ravenous fandom discerned potential cryptic messaging. Fueling the excitement were ongoing rumors and conjecture that suggested Rockstar had a historical preference for October announcements.
The community clung to every possible sign that could confirm this. A particularly mundane tweet from the studio had become the source of hope, and even a fraudulent game rating in Australia added to the mounting anticipation. The ultimate tease came a day before the expected date when a game page mysteriously appeared on Metacritic. But as the dust settled, the grand reveal proved to be nothing but a mirage, which, leaves us asking, where does this leave us with GTA 6?
YouTuber, LegacyKillaHD, who previously confirmed the authenticity of the Project Americas leak and hinted at the new female protagonist, has shared further insights about a potential reveal coming before 2024. Specifically, LegacyKillaHD claims that GTA 6 won’t be released before 2024 ends, which aligns with Take-Two’s hints at a Fiscal Year 2025 launch.
Such timelines prompt the question: What drives Rockstar’s continued refusal to talk about GTA 6? Could it be that GTA 6, from the limited glimpses of leaked content, is still far from the polishing stage? Past leaks have only shared an early build, revealing information such as the game’s location, protagonists, and random conversations. It’s evident Rockstar has kept the lion’s share of the game under wraps.
At this point, it’s easy to compare GTA 6 with The Elder Scrolls 6. Both highly anticipated titles remain enigmatic, with developers choosing to reveal details at their own pace. But, unlike Rockstar, Bethesda has said two things about TES 6 already: it’s in the early stages of development and it won’t announce new details until we’re only six months away from its launch. The good news is that Rockstar, unlike some other developers, refuses to compromise on quality. The studio’s commitment to excellence is evidence in their track record, barring instances where they outsourced projects, like Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.
From a broader perspective, Take-Two’s fiscal predictions was the reason for the October reveal speculation. Logically, a substantial revenue bump would necessitate a big game’s release before the next holiday season, which many believe is GTA 6. But, Take-Two is a huge company with several best-selling titles under its belt. What are the chances that its expected increase in revenue isn’t coming from GTA 6?
Some have moved on to the Bargaining stage, arguing that Rockstar will instead reveal GTA 6 in April 2024, which will precede a two-year waiting period before the actual launch.
Rockstar’s acquisition of FiveM opens up intriguing possibilities for GTA 6. With FiveM’s expertise, we might see vanilla role-play aspects in the game, sidestepping the need for mods. However, the onus is on Rockstar to ensure GTA 6 is a true next-gen experience. Fans are looking beyond mere cosmetic improvements. They want a revolution in NPC AI, perhaps through an LLM (Likelihood Learning Model), which would offer a dynamic gaming experience.
As the anticipation builds, it’s evident that public opinion is split. While many are desperate for a glimpse, others ask for patience, allowing Rockstar the space and time it needs to perfect their creation, even if that stretches into 2025 or beyond.
Whether the announcement comes this year, the next, or even later, you’d best bet that the world will be watching and waiting for when GTA 6 finally graces our screens.
