(*6*)GTA 6 should still be at least two years away from release, according to the developers working on the highly anticipated sequel.
(*6*)While Rockstar publicly confirmed that GTA 6 is in active development earlier this year, it has kept details on an expected release date under wraps. However, in a new report from Bloomberg (opens in a new tab), Rockstar employees said they expect the game to be out at least two years from now.
(*6*)The extended development period is partly a result of the game's changing tone. Rockstar reportedly took steps to ensure their satirical jokes were effective, rather than preying on marginalized groups. As part of the change, GTA 6 will feature the series' first female lead, and Rockstar employees say they're still determining what the next Grand Theft Auto will look like under this new approach.
Leaks galore
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)(*6*)With the release of GTA 5 in 2013, fans of Rockstar's popular open world series have been waiting for the sixth installment for a long time. This Bloomberg report is just the latest evidence to suggest that it is likely to be released in 2024.
(*6*)Take-Two Interactive's latest earnings report (opens in a new tab) shows that Rockstar's parent company plans to spend €89 million (about €74 million or AU$128 million) on marketing between April 2023 and the end of March 2024. This is a significant increase compared to previous years' budgets. Industry analyst Jeff Cohen predicts (opens in a new tab) that the boost will be used to promote GTA 6 ahead of its early 2024 release.
(*6*)On top of that, leaker Tom Henderson suggested last year that Rockstar was targeting a 2024-2025 release date. At the same time, he suggested that GTA 6 will feature multiple player characters, which has now been corroborated by Bloomberg.
(*6*)Although GTA 6 is still a long way off, waiting a few years might not be such a bad thing. In the meantime, there are plenty of games like GTA to play, and some people even want Rockstar to do something completely different before GTA 6 arrives.