To no one’s surprise, Rockstar Games is actively working on Grand Theft Auto 6. Perhaps to some peoples’ surprise, the studio actually announced that they’re working on it.
A press release from a Rockstar spokesperson reads:
With the unprecedented longevity of GTAV, we know many of you have been asking us about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series. With every new project we embark on, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we have previously delivered — and we are pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway. We look forward to sharing more as soon as we are ready, so please stay tuned to the Rockstar Newswire for official details.
On behalf of our entire team, we thank you all for your support and cannot wait to step into the future with you!
While they don’t actively say that the game is going to be called Grand Theft Auto 6, all rumours and signs have pointed to another numbered entry in the series. It also makes good business sense to show the legacy and history of the game in the title.
That being said, a game like Grand Theft Auto is not exactly flying under the radar, and while the last two games have been sequential, perhaps it’s time for Rockstar to dust off a subtitle they way they have with Vice City and San Andreas in the past.
Rockstar, unsurprisingly, didn’t comment on the release timeline of their next game, but knowing the studio’s history with the massive franchise and the fact that Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online are still massive moneymakers for the company, they’re not in any rush to push the next game out the door. We’d be surprised if GTA 6 even gets a screenshot, let alone a trailer sometime before the end of next year.
Rockstar continues upgrades and improvements to the 2013 release of Grand Theft Auto Online, a component to Grand Theft Auto V, a game that has generated more than $6 billion in revenue since its release. For perspective, the entire Halo franchise has generated $6.5 billion in its 20 year life, while the Mission: Impossible film and television franchise dating all the way back to 1966 has earned a combined $4 billion.
Since this community is so vibrant and always seems to be willing to spend its money, Rockstar has already outlined some of its 2022 plans for its current GTA title, including a release on next-gen consoles on March 15th. It is one of the only games ever made that has had active development across three console generations.
And this is why we can see Rockstar taking its time on its next game.
Expect Grand Theft Auto 6 to be out … when it’s ready.