Fans of the Grand Theft Auto franchise are wondering – why is GTA 6 taking so long to release? Is it close to completion, has development recently begun, or is there a roadblock? Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games has hinted why GTA VI is taking a long time, plus the recent leaks will most likely add to the delay. Here’s why the game is taking time to develop and release.
Why is GTA 6 Taking So Long to Come Out?
Here are the core reasons and some speculations on why GTA VI is taking so long to release:
GTA 5 was still being Released on Next-gen Consoles and Getting Updates
It’s one of the rare games that has managed to stay more than relevant for a decade and players of different generations have enjoyed it thoroughly. As most fans know, Grand Theft Auto V (aka GTA 5) was released in September 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Soon after, players of PS4 and Xbox One got it in 2014 and finally, it was released in April 2015 for Windows and March 2022 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the latest generation of consoles. Development was probably slowed down due to the team allocated to GTA 5 releases, updates for GTA Online, and the release of the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.
The Game has to Live up to Fan Expectations
As reported by TweakTown, GTA 6 is taking so long to develop because Rockstar has an obligation to deliver on fan expectations. Since GTA V has set a new benchmark in terms of storytelling, gameplay and concept, GTA VI has to surpass that somehow and that’s a Herculean task. It’s evident that fans are excited to get their hands on the game, but the outcome will be the best if Rockstar takes their time, refines it and doesn’t succumb to pressure by releasing a buggy title. We’ve seen this happen with one too many titles and would hate it to happen to GTA. Expectations are riding high with this one and quality does take time.
The Anticipation will make the Release even better
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has said that they are willing to “rest a title” so that the players take it as a rare and special event. I agree – the more the hype, the better the response will be, if the final output is fantastic. Strauss Zelnick continues that “annualizing non-sports titles run the risk of burning out the intellectual property, even if it’s good.” This is one of the major reasons why Rockstar isn’t rushing GTA VI.
GTA 6 Leaked Footage may Delay the Release even more
A massive leak, which is being called the worst gaming-related leak in history, hit Rockstar in September 2022. The early test build includes locations, engine, new additions, gameplay footage, new characters, and was confirmed to be real. The hacker also claims that they have a source code for GTA games, which can be a nightmare for the devs. While Rockstar tries to figure out the root of this leak and stop its spread, there’s a chance that the expected release date will get pushed further due to this unprecedented situation. As of now, Rockstar has said that they “do not anticipate any long-term effect on the development of their ongoing projects.”
Here’s a message from Rockstar regarding the leaks:
That’s everything about the reasons why GTA VI is taking so long to make and release. We will be covering all about it when it does release, so stay with Gamer Tweak.