Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is one of the most popular gaming franchises globally, with GTA V currently being the current iteration that was released back in 2013. However, while millions across the globe still play the game, it has started showing its age. Taking a look at this, Rockstar Games has announced that it has started working on its next version. The company confirmed that it started working on GTA 6 back in February this year and stated that more details about the game would follow later. While we wait for the game development giant to reveal more information, here’s everything we know about the upcoming game.
GTA 6 Expected Release Date
Rockstar Games has only announced that it has kicked off the development cycle for the next GTA game but is yet to announce an exact launch timeline. According to research analyst Doug Creutz of Cowen, GTA 6 will likely launch in FY 24, putting the release date between April 2023 and March 2024. However, leakster Tom Henderson believes that the game will be released sometime in 2025.
An SEC filing by Rockstar Games’ parent, Take-Two Interactive, reveals that the brand is looking for a massive increase in its advertising spending budget for FY 24, which may be used for GTA 6. However, the studio later came out of the closet to announce that the budget increase was for third-party games developed by partner studios and not an internal studio like Rockstar.
The company has refused up front, and multiple reports claim that the company is simply just trying to keep its robe on for a while. However, all rumours point to a 2024 or 2025 release, which means you will have to wait for some time before you get your hands on the game.
GTA 6 Supported Platforms
GTA 6, just like its predecessor, is expected to be made available on both consoles and PC. The company will reportedly release the game first for the PlayStation 5 (PS5) and the Xbox Series X | S, followed by a release for the older-gen consoles, including the PlayStation 4 (PS4) and the Xbox One consoles.
Will GTA 6 be made available on PC?
Rockstar has had a history of delaying the PC launch of its games, and we expect it to provide similar treatment to GTA 6. To recall, it took Rockstar a year and a half to release GTA 5 PC. We hope the company will lessen the time gap but not remove it altogether. So, if you are looking for the PC version of the game, you may have to wait a bit longer.
GTA 6 Mobile?
Multiple GTA games are available on the mobile platform, including GTA Vice City, III, and San Andreas, to name a few. The company is yet to release a mobile version of GTA V, but the game can still be played on smartphones via streaming services like Steam Link. As of now, it is very early to say if GTA 6 will release on Android or iOS. However, the game will be playable on mobile devices using cloud gaming services.
GTA 6: Storyline
Rockstar Games has not revealed anything regarding the storyline of the upcoming GTA 6 game. However, the rumour mill has not stopped churning out leaks, stating that the game will continue GTA 5’s multiple protagonist gameplay styles.
According to a report by Matheusvictorbr, GTA 6 will host two protagonists who get separated in the game’s prologue, set in 2003, after their parents were killed. The report further states that the game will feature destructive environments and an adaptive map that changes throughout the story and through time.
Multiple reports suggest that GTA 6 will split into two time periods. The first half will be hosted in 1985, where we will get to see a lead up to the birth of our protagonists, and the second half will be set in the modern-day, ultimately leading to both the brother and sister coming together for a major family mission.
Considering that the game is returning to Vice City after a long time, we do expect the prologue to do something with the classic cult character, Tommy Vercetti.
GTA 6: When will it be set?
According to Matheusvictorbr, the game will start with a prologue set in 2003. After the prologue ends, the game will then move to a modern-day setting, preceding even GTA 5’s timeline. A separate leak by Onion00048 states that we will get to see Liberty City in both prologue and the epilogue. He also suggests that the game will be split into two time periods, with the first half taking place in 1985 and the second half occurring in the modern-day.
Moreover, Kotaku reports that the game will start with a moderately sized release and then expand with regular updates over time. The leakster Tez2 claims that GTA 6 will follow a chapter system, which could span multiple timelines. These timelines will be released with new updates at scheduled intervals.
GTA 6: Location Setting
Rockstar had once mentioned its ambitious plan to put all of its cities in one mega-game, which we might see in GTA 6. Moreover, a recent report by Matheusvictorbr states that the game will also get a new playable city based on Chicago.
Earlier rumours suggest that the game will see us returning to Vice City, albeit a modern-day version. These same rumours suggest that we will get to know a lot of callbacks to the original Vice City, and GTA 6’s map will expand over time, possibly through DLC or live game updates.
GTA 6: Maps
The internet is currently full of GTA 6 map leaks, and it will not be surprising if all of them turn out to be fake, considering that Rockstar Games has just started working on the next-gen game. However, from the current leaks, we can take out that the game’s map will be comparatively larger than GTA 5’s, consisting of a number of cities, but at the same time majorly focusing on Vice City.
GTA Online is a major part of GTA 5, and the company keeps on adding new activities, content, and events to the game. Given that both GTA 4 and GTA 5 have had online servers, it seems positive that we will get to see an online experience for GTA 6.
Will it be the first GTA game to feature a female protagonist?
According to the leak by Matheusvictorbr, the story will follow a brother and a sister who were separated in their childhood after their parents died. If this leak turns out to be true, it will be the first time we will get to see a female protagonist in the series.
GTA 6 Latest News
GTA 6 May Release in Eary 2024, May Feature Siblings Protagonists (06-04-2022)
According to a Rockstar Games insider, GTA 6 will release in early 2024, being pushed from a Holiday 2023 season release timeline. At the same time, another industry insider has taken to Twitter to announce that GTA 6 will follow the story of two siblings, a brother and sister, who were separated back in 2003.
Dr Dre Producing Songs For GTA 6 (28-10-2021)
During a podcast interview with Rolling Stone Music Now, rapper Snoop Dogg commented that Dr Dre is back in the studio mixing up songs for an upcoming GTA game. If the rumour is to be believed, this will not be the first time we will get to see Dr Dre share his talents in a GTA game.
Dual-Protagonists, One Female, Confirmed
According to a recent Bloomberg report, it has seemingly been confirmed that Rockstar Games are looking to debut the first-ever female protagonist in the series in the next GTA title. The report states that Rockstar has been making the shift towards a more politically sensitive product, which includes making changes to the company’s work culture as well as dealing with culturally sensitive issues with a lighter touch.
The GTA franchise has been criticized a ton for its lacklustre portrayal of female characters that border on the line of poor taste. Only recently, Rockstar removed certain transphobic comments and jokes in Grand Theft Auto V’s re-release on next-gen consoles and the studio is making a conscious shift away from the typical “punching down” that is commonplace in Grand Theft Auto.
The report states that the game will follow two protagonists, apparently siblings, on either side of the law. It has not yet been confirmed by Rockstar so there is a good chance of things being changed between now and when the game comes out.
Return to Vice City
The Bloomberg report also states that the next Grand Theft Auto game will take place in a fictionalized version of Miami. As fans might remember, Vice City, from Grand Theft Auto Vice City, was inspired by the likes of Miami and a combination of other cities. Thus, it stands to reason that GTA 6 might indeed take place in Miami.
Earlier reports and rumours concerning Grand Theft Auto 6 revolved around a massively ambitious project, apparently codenamed “Project AMERICAS”, which would include a total of 3 cities. However, more recent reports suggest that the game will have a smaller scope, prioritizing focus over scale.
Live-Service Type Model
Amidst talk of the open-world setting of the next GTA game, there is also some speculation regarding the live-service aspects of the game. Specifically, the Bloomberg report also continues to elaborate on the possibility of Rockstar adding more functionality, locations, and features through updates.
There might be a good chance that GTA 6 might evolve over time to include more locations and experiment with new storylines and content, much like its Online counterpart.
