Rockstar Games has finally confirmed that GTA 6, the next installment in the hugely popular Grand Theft Auto series, is in active development. The announcement came via a tweet on February 4, 2022, after years of speculation, rumors, and leaks about the game. The tweet read: “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.
The tweet did not reveal any details about GTA 6, such as its release date, platforms, setting, or gameplay. However, several reports and sources have claimed to have some information about the game, which we will summarize below.
Release Date and Platforms
GTA 6 does not have a confirmed release date yet, but some analysts and insiders have predicted that it could launch between 2024 and 2025. According to a Bloomberg report from June 2022, current and former Rockstar staff estimated that GTA 6 was still at least two years away from release at that time, suggesting a 2024/2025 release window. This was also supported by Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar, which projected a huge increase in revenue for its fiscal year 2025 (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025), possibly due to the anticipation of GTA 6.
As for the platforms, GTA 6 will likely be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC. However, it is unclear if the PC version will be released simultaneously with the console versions, or if it will follow later, as it was the case with GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. It is also unlikely that GTA 6 will be released on older consoles, such as PS4 and Xbox One, due to the limitations of their hardware and the ambition of Rockstar’s vision.
Setting and Gameplay
GTA 6 will reportedly return to Vice City, the fictional version of Miami that was featured in GTA: Vice City and GTA: Vice City Stories. This was reported by Bloomberg, which cited multiple sources who claimed that Vice City was the initial setting for GTA 6, codenamed Project Americas. However, the report also stated that Rockstar planned to add new missions and cities on a regular basis, expanding the game’s world and content over time. This could mean that GTA 6 will feature multiple locations across North and South America, such as Rio de Janeiro, Colombia, or Cuba, as some leaks have suggested.
GTA 6 will also reportedly have more interior locations than any previous GTA game, allowing players to explore buildings, businesses, and homes in more detail. Additionally, GTA 6 will likely have a dynamic weather system, realistic physics, improved AI, and enhanced graphics, taking advantage of the power of the new generation of consoles and PC. GTA 6 may also have some online features, such as cross-play, co-op, or multiplayer modes, but it is unknown if it will have a separate online component like GTA Online.
Story and Characters
GTA 6 will likely have a story-driven campaign, with a main protagonist and a supporting cast of characters. However, the identity and background of the protagonist are still unknown, as well as the plot and themes of the story. Some rumors have claimed that GTA 6 will have a female protagonist for the first time in the series, or that it will have multiple protagonists like GTA 5. Some leaks have also suggested that GTA 6 will have a narco-themed story, inspired by the Netflix series Narcos, or that it will span multiple decades, from the 1970s to the present day.
Of course, all of these details are unconfirmed and subject to change, as Rockstar has not officially revealed anything about GTA 6 yet. We will have to wait for more official announcements and trailers from Rockstar to learn more about the game. Until then, we can only hope that GTA 6 will live up to the hype and expectations of the fans, and that it will deliver a groundbreaking and immersive experience that will redefine the open-world genre.