It's the news all Grand Theft Auto fans have been waiting for. Rockstar is finally developing GTA 6.
We've been starved of a new installment of the iconic franchise since September 2013. Unfortunately, it looks like it'll lapse past the decade mark to enjoy the next one.
However, it's not all doom and gloom. The news that Grand Theft Auto 6 is on the horizon is welcomed by most. Before this, all we had were rumours to go by.
The big question is when will the game be finished? GTA V took roughly three years to make so if that's anything to go by - it might not be finished until 2024 or 2025.
Many of you have been asking about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.
With every new project, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we've previously delivered. We're pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the series is underway.— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) February 4, 2022
Why has it taken this long?
Why have we waited nine years and counting for a GTA 6 release? Rockstar doesn't exclusively make Grand Theft Auto Games. It has brought us the likes of Red Dead Redemption and L.A. Noire.
The release of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, in particular, likely consumed most of Rockstar's resources and manpower for the years after GTA V's release.
There's the success of GTA V Online as another reason. Rockstar has been releasing new online content since the game came out in 2013 and made huge bank from it.
There's also the GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition that came out last year, which was an upgrade on the original GTA 3, GTA Vice City, and GTA San Andreas games.
Not to mention that Rockstar is flogging GTA V again. This time it's the 'expanded and enhanced' version for next-generation consoles in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
When is GTA 6 rumoured to release?
Probably the best bit of knowledge we have on the release of GTA 6 is from VentureBeat. They've delved into the finances of Rockstar's parent company Take-Two.
According to VentureBeat, Rockstar has allocated almost €78 million for a marketing budget between April 2023 and March 2024. It's an outlier in their accounts.
This would indicate that GTA 6 could be set for release between that timeframe. VentureBeat successfully predicted the release of Red Dead 2 under similar circumstances.
According to Take Twos financial projections, they project a $9B fiscal year in 2024 (April 2023 - March 2024)
GTA 6 is really the only title that I think could give Take Two such confidence 👀 pic.twitter.com/shTKlt10a1— Esportscenter (@_esportscenter) January 13, 2022
There's also the change in numbers. Reports have suggested this marketing push was initially set for 2023 alone but has been pushed back to 2024, alluding to delays.
A well-known games leaker, Tom Henderson, has said that he expects GTA 6 to be released between 2024 and 2025. He's successfully predicted some Call of Duty and Battlefield release dates.
Where will GTA 6 be located?
This will be a rumour filled topic for the next few years. Where will GTA 6 be set? GTA V was a rough depiction of Los Angeles and GTA IV was set in a replica of New York.
It's probably the hardest topic to pinpoint right now but reports have suggested this map could be the biggest of any game in history, even spanning the size of the U.S.
There have been reports that the game is being developed under the banner 'Project Americas' which would see Grand Theft Auto set between North and South America.
Many believe it could be in line for a return to 'Vice City', which will be welcomed by many fans of the original setting, which was loosely based on Miami.
It looks like Rockstar could also return to an old stomping ground. With the Vice City rumours, there are also suggestions that Liberty City could be on the map too.
Rumored GTA 6 details:
▪️Been in development since 2012
▪️Codename is PROJECT AMERICAS
▪️Set in both Vice City and a new fictional location based on Rio de Janeiro
▪️Set in 1970s-1980s
▪️You play as a drug lord-wannabe named "Ricardo"
▪️Inspired by Netflix's Narcos#GTA6 #GTAVI pic.twitter.com/2oH9v1i0Bn— GTA 6 News (@GTA6Intel) June 30, 2019
Who will the game be based on?
If rumours are to be believed, the storyline of GTA 6 will have drawn heavy inspiration from Netflix's Narcos series. This means it could involve the rise of a drug lord.
It could be set in the 1970s/1980s era and move between locations, with flights and airports more heavily used than ever before. So a bit of smuggling could be on the cards.
In line with the 'cartel' element, some leaked maps show parts of Colombia and even Rio De Janeiro as possible locations for story plots going forward.
If the drug element is to be believed, many think that it's a no-brainer that Vice City is integrated into it in some capacity. That would excite many fans.
For now, there's a lot of rumours out there with little evidence behind them. Nonetheless, it's going to spark the interest of even the casual gamer to follow the release of GTA 6.
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