Grand Theft Auto 6remains one of the most highly anticipated titles in gaming, although fans know little about the game’s plot, setting, or even its release window. FollowingGrand Theft Auto 5’s monumental success, expectations are high for its successor, and it will have to be nothing short of a masterpiece to please fans after the long wait. Fortunately, Rockstar has never backed down from a challenge, and instead, it has continually exceeded expectations.
AsGTA 6’s development continues, Rockstar finds itself having to make decisions that may not be the most pleasant for both the company and gamers. The company will have to wave goodbye to beloved games such asRed Dead Redemption 2andGTA 5as it focuses onGTA 6, which may be a bittersweet farewell. Furthermore, if recent leaks are to be believed, the company has also had to abandon some of its more overambitious ideas for the sake of its team and the upcoming game.
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Rockstar Says Goodby to Grand Theft Auto 5
A lot of resources were invested intoGrand Theft Auto 5. Development of the game began in 2008, around the release ofGrand Theft Auto 4. Rather than delegate the project to one of Rockstar’s internal studios, many of its global studios worked together, resulting in a team of over 1,000 employees involved withGTA 5’s development. Plenty of money was spent on the project, with analysts putting estimates between $137 million and $265 million, making it one of themost expensive games developedat the time of its release in 2013. As part of research for the game, some team members traveled to Los Angeles, which Los Santos is inspired by. Over a quarter of a million photographs were taken, and several experts were consulted, including FBI agents and mafia experts. With this research, developers were able to create a world that is not a perfect replica of Los Angeles, but manages to capture its essence.
With all the time and money that Rockstar put intoGTA 5, it is understandable that the company would want to see a healthy return on its investment. This, in part, explains why Rockstar has milked the game, along with its online counterpart, for so many years, and even releasedGTA 5across three consecutive console generations. However, with over 170 million copies sold globally, and an estimated $6 billion in profits, it is hard to argue that Rockstar has not reaped everything it deserves from its labor.
Despite Rockstar’s attachment toGTA 5, it appears that the company is finally ready to move on to the next era of theGrand Theft Autofranchise. Recently,Rockstar posted a thank-you note on its site, and it is addressed to everyone who worked on the game from 2013 until the present day. The note is followed by an impressively long list of credits, and this seems to suggest thatGTA 5’s chapter has come to an end, as credits usually come at the end of events. LeavingGTA 5is likely a hard move for Rockstar and, judging by the game’s seldom decelerating sales, it will be tough for gamers, too. However, it is a necessary step to ensureGrand Theft Auto 6’s success. With Rockstar’s focus off ofGTA 5, it can finally focus all its resources on the next game to ensure that it can surpass the high bar established by its predecessor.
Rockstar Decides to Scale Down
Though Rockstar has not revealed much aboutGTA 6outside of letting gamers know that it is on the way, a steady stream of rumors and alleged leaks have kept discussion around the game alive. Perhaps the most trustworthy source of information has come fromJason Schreierwho, reporting for Bloomberg, has revealed a lot about Rockstar’s evolution andGTA 6’s development. According to Schreier, Rockstar originally had plans to feature both North America and South America inGTA 6. However, developers eventually decided to scale down and focus on just Miami instead. This is not a new location for theGTAfranchise, as it serves as the inspiration for Vice City, which has appeared in multipleGTAgames.
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If Schreier’s reporting is accurate, thenGTA 6’s map will be smaller than what was initially intended, and like prior games, players will be mostly limited to a single region. However, this may be yet another hard but ultimately beneficial decision. Scaling things down prevents the game from being stuck indevelopment hell, ensuring that it will make it to store shelves within the next few years. Schreier also claimed thatGTA 6has been in development since 2014, and some developers are frustrated with the slow progress being made on the game’s development. The solution to this may be to give up on unrealistic ideas in favor of more down-to-earth but accomplishable goals.
The map that players get atGTA 6’s launch may not be the final one, as Schreier also claims that Rockstar will update the upcoming game with new missions and cities over time. This is perhaps the best solution, as it ensures that the game will have longevity and alleviates developers from having to suffer through crunch time.GTA 4illustrated just how impressiveGrand Theft AutoDLCcan be, and if Rockstar can replicate the highs of The Lost and Damned withGTA 6’s DLC, it is bound to be a hit.
Analysts predict thatGrand Theft Auto 6should arrive sometime in 2024, which is over a decade sinceGTA 5’s initial launch. The game will come from a Rockstar which has reportedly drastically transformed and has left behind its frat-boy culture for a more progressive outlook. ThoughGTA 6will likely be different from its predecessors, Rockstar appears to be making the best decisions for it to succeed.
Grand Theft Auto 6is currently in development.
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