Why Grand Theft Auto VI Could Be Worth The Long Wait

For 13 years, people have been waiting for Grand Theft Auto VI. 

Its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, took the gaming landscape by storm in 2013. It sold 215 million copies worldwide and was critically acclaimed for its interactive open world, three-protagonist narrative and gameplay. 

The bar was set even higher for Rockstar Games following their 2018 release, Red Dead Redemption 2.

It was praised for its expansive narrative and immersive open world. That set new heights that GTA VI must surpass. 

For a while, the game began to feel like a myth to players.

In 2022, British cybercrime group Lapsus$ leaked an early datamine for GTAVI, confirming its development. Tests on the game’s performance and early graphics were leaked. This reignited excitement among loyal fans and the gaming world.

Following that, Rockstar was forced to come up with a response. The gaming studio released a trailer in late 2023, officially confirming the existence of the long-awaited game. 

It showcased two protagonists, Jason and Lucia, as well as Leonida, an expansive open-world environment heavily inspired by Florida. 

Vice City, the setting for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, is also expected to make a return.

GTAVI was initially slated for 2025, but got pushed back to May 26, 2026. It eventually got further delayed to Nov. 19. 

The thirteen year wait has fans divided. Some can deal with the long delay, but most are just  frustrated. 

In an X post announcing the delay, the company said that the constant delay “will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve.”

The gaming studio is known for exceeding expectations.

Their track record is impressive—they have some of the most well-known video games in the world with the Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead, and the Max Payne series under their belt. 

Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to be the most expensive game ever developed, costing an estimated one to two billion dollars to make. That is a huge step up from Grand Theft Auto V’s $265 million budget.

While information about the game remains limited, players can expect a few things. 

With its astronomical budget, there will be highly advanced graphics. We also know that Leonidas will be an open world to explore like no other.

The scope of this game can forge a new path in the gaming industry and its standards moving forward. 

It has the potential to serve as a major accomplishment for a notoriously top-tier gaming studio, and the industry itself.