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GTA VI Launch Timeline

Published by Psy
Last Updated

GTA VI Launch Timeline

We take a look at all of the events along the way from GTA VI's first mention to the latest official news from Rockstar Games and Take-Two.

GTA VI Development Starts

2014

An article posted by Bloomberg in 2022 (see below) confirms development began on the game in 2014, a year or so after the release of GTA V, although a shake up of the working conditions and a number of high profile resignations meant that the development plan would change constantly over the following years.

Grand Theft Auto will have female main character for first time
Bloomberg News

Industry analysts anticipate that the next Grand Theft Auto will be out sometime in Take-Two’s 2024 fiscal year, which runs from April 2023 through March 2024, but developers are skeptical. The game has been in development in some form since 2014. Although there are loose schedules in place, people interviewed for this article said they didn’t know of any firm release date and that they expect the game to be at least two years away. Earlier this year, a group of designers quit Rockstar’s Edinburgh office, telling colleagues they were sick of the lack of progress.

Rockstar Games Confirm New GTA Development "Well Underway"

February 4, 2022

Rockstar Games added a short paragraph to the end of a Grand Theft Auto Community Update on their official Newswire explaining that they are actively working on a new game in the series.

Grand Theft Auto Community Update
Rockstar Games Newswire

What's Next

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!

- Rockstar Games

rockstar games confirm new gta is in development
Rockstar Games Moving Development Resources To "Next GTA"

July 7, 2022

Rockstar Games mentioned they are moving resources towards the new Grand Theft Auto game in a GTA and Red Dead Online community update. Thanks to Jari for sharing the info with us.

Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Online Community Update
Rockstar Games Newswire

Over the past few years, we have been steadily moving more development resources towards the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series — understanding more than ever the need to exceed players’ expectations and for this next entry to be the best it can possibly be — and as a result, we are in the process of making some changes to how we support Red Dead Online.

Bloomberg Article Reveals Female Protagonist & Miami Setting

July 27, 2022

Bloomberg posted an article which reveals GTA 6 will feature a playable female protagonist for the first time ever. Additionally, they speculate the game will not release until at least 2024 and the map, based on Miami, will be updated over time with new missions and cities.

Grand Theft Auto will have female main character for first time
Bloomberg News

After a public controversy four years ago, Rockstar, the maker of Grand Theft Auto, is reinventing itself as a kinder, gentler company. But employees aren’t sure it can still produce the chart-topping caliber of game the studio has become known for.

The development of Grand Theft Auto VI has been slower than impatient fans and even longtime employees have expected, despite morale across the company being higher than ever, according to many staffers. Between the company’s new direction and the 2019 departure of Dan Houser, who led creative direction on many previous games, all indications suggest Grand Theft Auto VI will feel very different than its predecessor.

Here’s what we know.

There will be a female protagonist

The game will feature a playable female protagonist for the first time, according to people familiar with the matter. The woman is Latina and will be one of a pair of leading characters in a story influenced by the bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde. Developers are also being cautious not to “punch down” by making jokes about marginalized groups, the people said, in contrast with previous Grand Theft Auto games.

The game’s release is likely two years away

Industry analysts anticipate that the next Grand Theft Auto will be out sometime in Take-Two’s 2024 fiscal year, which runs from April 2023 through March 2024, but developers are skeptical. The game has been in development in some form since 2014. Although there are loose schedules in place, people interviewed for this article said they didn’t know of any firm release date and that they expect the game to be at least two years away. Earlier this year, a group of designers quit Rockstar’s Edinburgh office, telling colleagues they were sick of the lack of progress.

Rockstar wanted to include large portions of North and South America but had to be reeled in

Original plans for the title, which is code-named Project Americas, were for it to be bigger than any Grand Theft Auto game to date. Early designs called for the inclusion of territories modeled after large swaths of North and South America, according to people familiar with the plans.

The new map is a fictionalized Miami but will update over time

The game’s new map is now focused on a fictional version of Miami and its surrounding areas. Rockstar’s plan is to continually update the game over time, adding new missions and cities on a regular basis, which leadership hopes will lead to less crunch during the game’s final months.

Take Two Interactive Reaffirm New GTA In Development

August 8, 2022

In their 'Q1 2023 Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Earnings Conference Call', it was again made clear that a new Grand Theft Auto game is in development and that Rockstar Games are determined to continue to set creative benchmarks.

Take Two Interactive
Earnings Conference Call

Sales of Grand Theft Auto V also remained strong, and to date, the title has sold-in nearly 170 million units. With development of the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series well underway, the Rockstar Games team is determined to once again set creative benchmarks for the series, our industry, and for all entertainment, just as the label has done with every one of their frontline releases.

Early Development Footage Leaks

September 18, 2022

A large number of GTA VI development videos were obtained by a hacker which show off some of the new features being tested. Included in this was confirmation that there are at least two playable characters, a Caucasian male named Jason and a Latina female named Lucia. The videos also confirm the Vice City (Miami based) setting and that robberies will play a part in the game.

Jason Schreier Gta Vi Leak

Rockstar Confirm Security Breach

September 19, 2022

Rockstar Games posted a statement on Twitter acknowledging the recent leak of development footage, confirming it was true and explaining to fans that development would continue and they would release more information about the new Grand Theft Auto game when they were ready.

Rockstar Games
Via Twitter

We recently suffered a network intrusion in which an unauthorized third party illegally accessed and downloaded confidential information from our systems, including early development footage of the next Grand Theft Auto. At this time, we do not anticipate any disruption to our live game services nor any long-term effect on the development of our ongoing projects.

We are extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared with you all in this way. Our work on the next Grand Theft Auto game will continue as planned and we remain as committed as ever to delivering the experience to you, our players, that truly exceeds your expectations. We will update everyone again soon and, of course, will properly introduce you to the next game when it is ready. We want to thank everyone for their ongoing support through this situation.

Rockstar GTA VI Leak Official Statement
Bloomberg Article Suggests Upcoming Announcement & Trailer

November 8, 2023

In an article posted by Jason Schreier, it was suggested that Rockstar Games had planned to announce the next GTA game in the coming days with a trailer to be released in December 2023.

Rockstar Plans to Announce Much Anticipated ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’
Bloomberg News

Rockstar Games, a division of Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., plans to announce the next highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto game as early as this week, according to people familiar with its plans.

The company plans to then publish a trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI next month to celebrate Rockstar’s 25th anniversary, said the people, who asked to not be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. A spokesperson for Rockstar didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment sent after business hours.

No video game has driven more fervor from fans and investors than Grand Theft Auto VI, which is expected to be one of the most significant entertainment releases of the decade. Its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, has sold more than 185 million copies and is the second-best selling video game of all time, behind Minecraft, which had the advantage of also being playable on phones.

Rockstar has spent the last few years working to clean up its corporate culture and work-life balance after employees complained of burnout during the making of its last game, 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2.

Last year, hackers released hours of early footage from Grand Theft Auto VI. Rockstar blamed a “network intrusion” and said it “will properly introduce you to this next game when it is ready.” Two UK teens were convicted of the hack in a London criminal trial earlier this year.

The game is set in a fictional version of Miami and features two protagonists, a man and a woman, Bloomberg News has reported.

Take-Two is scheduled to report earnings on Wednesday.

Jason Schreier Tweet Nov 8
Rockstar Games Announce "the next Grand Theft Auto" Trailer to be released in early December

November 8, 2023

Less than 12 hours after Bloomberg's article, Rockstar Games posted "a message from Rockstar Games" on their newswire thanking fans for their support over the last 25 years and promised to release a trailer for "the next Grand Theft Auto" in early December.

A Message From Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games Newswire

Next month marks the 25th anniversary of Rockstar Games.

Thanks to the incredible support of our players worldwide, we have had the opportunity to create games we are truly passionate about — without you, none of this would be possible, and we are so grateful to all of you for sharing this journey with us.

In 1998, Rockstar Games was founded on the idea that video games could come to be as essential to culture as any other form of entertainment, and we hope that we have created games you love in our efforts to be part of that evolution.

We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto.

We look forward to many more years of sharing these experiences with all of you.

Thank you,

Sam Houser

A Message From Rockstar Games - GTA VI Trailer Announcement
Rockstar Games Announce Trailer 1 to be released on Tuesday, December 5th at 9 AM

December 1, 2023

Rockstar Games took to all of their social media channels and their Newswire at 9 AM ET to show off the first official artwork for the game, and in doing so also confirmed the first trailer would launch on December 5th. The artwork gives off a strong Miami / Vice City vibe further confirming what we already know about the setting.

Trailer 1 Official Teaser Artwork

Trailer 1 Is Launched 15 Hours Early Following A Leak

December 4, 2023

At some time around 10 PM GMT the first GTA VI trailer was leaked on social media. Although it wasn't their intended plan, Rockstar Games quickly launched the official trailer at 11:07pm GMT on YouTube to counter the leaks.

Official Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1 Artwork

Watch the trailer below:

Rockstar Games Launch GTA VI Splash Site

December 5th, 2023

Following the release of the first official trailer, Rockstar Games launched their GTA VI website which contained a large version of their artwork image, a basic synopsis to the game and a button to watch the trailer.

WELCOME TO LEONIDA
Official GTA VI Website (Rockstar Games)

Rockstar Games Official GTA VI Page

Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet. Coming 2025 to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Additionally, Take Two Interactive put out a press release with quotes from Sam Houser.

Sam Houser
Take-Two Interactive Press Release

Grand Theft Auto VI continues our efforts to push the limits of what’s possible in highly immersive, story-driven open-world experiences,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “We’re thrilled to be able to share this new vision with players everywhere.”

Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.

Rockstar Devs Told To Return To Office From April

February 29, 2024

According to an email sent out to staff by Jennifer Kolbe, Rockstar's Head of Publishing, which was reviewed by Bloomberg, Rockstar Games will ask all employees to return to the office five days a week from April 2024. The decision was met with much criticism from developers, some of whom no longer live locally to the office and were promised continued remote working capabilities.

Rockstar Games Add GTA VI To Their Website's Games Page

March 7, 2024

After more than 3 months since the trailer launch, Rockstar Games quietly updated their website, adding a large GTA VI banner to the top of their 'Games' page.

Rockstar Games Website Wide GTA VI Banner

Rockstar Devs Return To Office

April 15, 2024

As of April 15th, Rockstar devs began returning to the office full time. Their ability to work remotely was been withdrawn. A number of developers are not happy with this, however Rockstar believe it will lead to improved productivity and security. This marks the start of the "final stretch" of GTA VI development.

Take-Two Announce "Fall 2025" Release Date

May 16, 2024

During their earnings call with investors on May 16th, Take-Two announced that Rockstar Games had narrowed their expected release window to Fall of 2025. Earlier forecasts had suggested a release in early 2025 was targetted, leading some to consider this an internal and unofficial delay.

Grand Theft Auto VI Release Date "Fall 2025"
Take-Two Earnings Call (May 16th, 2024)

"Our outlook reflects a narrowing of Rockstar Games' previously established window of calendar 2025 to Fall of calendar 2025 for Grand Theft Auto VI. We are highly confident that Rockstar Games will deliver an unparalleled entertainment experience, and our expectations for the commercial impact of the title continue to increase."

Take-Two CEO Hints At GTA VI's PC Release

May 31, 2024

In an online interview with TD Cowen, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick suggested that an announcement for the PC version of GTA VI would come in due time.

Grand Theft Auto VI PC Release
Strauss Zelnick (May 31st, 2024)

"Rockstar has an approach to platforms which we’ve seen before, and they’ll make more announcements in due time. I do believe that the right strategy for our business is to be where the consumer is, and historically what this company has done is address consumers anywhere they are, on any platform that makes sense over time."

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