Sure, Leslie Benzies, former president of Rockstar North, was instrumental in the development of the open world action-adventure video game franchise “Grand Theft Auto.” His recent departure from the game development company after a 17-month sabbatical since September 1, 2014 has nearly shocked fans and gamers of “GTA” particularly those already anticipating the next game of the franchise, “GTA 6.”
Many believe that with the departure of Benzies, it would shake things up with the development team of “GTA 6” that the game may actually be delayed for its projected 2018 release date.
But gaming critics believe that the absence of Benzies would not have a telling impact on the development and eventual release of “GTA 6.”
While it is true that Benzies has spent 15 years of his time with Rockstar contributing to the development of the “GTA” franchise, it was not all him. It’s a team effort so he sure had help from plenty of people.
The only way that the development of the “GTA 6” would be affected by his departure is that if all those people in the team joined Benzies when he left the company. Apparently, they did not. So basically, the core of the development team is still intact.
And besides, Benzies has been out since September 2014, which was basically before the time when Rockstar launched the “GTA 5” on the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. The game eventually made it to the PC in April 2015. This indicates that for the important milestones of the “GTA 5,” Benzies was on leave from the company.
Even during the release of the much-awaited “GTA Online Heists,” Benzies was still indisposed. There have been plenty of DLCs that arrived in the online multiplayer version of the game since early last year and all of those came out without the former Rockstar North executive personally calling the shots or taking charge personally.
Arriving with the new gaming consoles
With that being said, it is possible that the recent delay rumors for “GTA 6” is actually a product of the uncertainty whether Rockstar would release the game before or after the release of the next-generation gaming consoles – the Xbox Two and the PlayStation 5.
According to the Christian Today, rumors are rife that the sixth installment of the “GTA” franchise may arrive along with the new game consoles.
However, since Rockstar nor Microsoft nor Sony has yet to come out with an announcement or statement to either confirm or deny these reports, everything is speculation at this point in time.
Critics are encouraging gamers that instead of channelling their excitement and enthusiasm on a future game, they might as well enjoy “GTA 5” especially with the fact that it just received a “The Last of Us” mod where the streets of Los Santos have been given a tweak to give players the feel of a post-apocalyptic setting, details Valuewalk.
A record-breaking game
“GTA 5” actually broke tons of records when it was released to the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 in October 2014. It ran away with $1 billion in sales in just over a week.
The sales performance of the game cemented “GTA 5” in the record books for any entertainment property including eagerly awaited films with widespread global releases.
“GTA 5” actually generated $800 million in sales right on its first day of release before reaching the $1 billion mark in less than three days.
Over 60 million units of the game have been shipped to make it one of the most successful video game properties in history and its online version continues to make the company the producers of a terrific amount of money.