In 2016, Rockstar Games unveiled two of its upcoming products. Trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 has already been released, and the expected launch date is set sometime in late 2017. The second product is the much awaited GTA 6, the release date of which was speculated to be sometime in 2018. But, from the looks of it, the release can be expected no sooner than 2020.
The latest Grand Theft Auto installment is pushed because of the pattern that was followed by the previously released GTA titles; the fans will have to wait for five years before the next title is out. GTA 4 and GTA 5 were released in 2008 and 2013 respectively. According to this, the release date should have been in 2018.
Due to the release of the Red Dead Redemption 2, the development of GTA 6 has been moving ahead result being, the delay in its release. Considering its popularity, the speculations regarding the much-awaited title are running crazy through the fan base.
The biggest rumor says that this version would introduce new foreign locations like London and Tokyo as the developers hint at the story being developed in the direction of a Japanese standpoint. However, it is highly possible that they would stick their most mastered location which is Chicago. There are also speculations that the game will feature the whole of United States and include other ways other than cars to get there.
It is also heard that this version will have a female protagonist in the game which is unlike many other games and obviously GTA’s previous versions. This is coming out to be one of the biggest challenges that the developers of the game will have to undertake. It is also rumored that she will be voiced by Eva Mendes. There are speculations of a male counterpart as well who might be voiced by Ryan Gosling, Mendes’s real life partner.
The store and the maps will be intertwined, as stated by Benzies. The mission will be derived from the same which maps the location a prime concern.
Another reason behind the delay of the release of this version is that they are hoping to achieve an edge by adding the support for augmented or virtual reality. By adding either of the two features, GTA 6 might be able to break its record of 800-million profit with GTA 5 back in September 2013.
However, this is still in the stages of discussion as it depends on the fate of the technology for it to be added to the game or not. Currently, only the PSVR is a console based VR headset which is compatible with PS4 and PS4 Pro.
The exact release date of GTA 6 is still unknown but the publisher’s president, Leslie Benzies confirmed that the work on GTA 6 has already begun but is still in its early stages. Leslie also spoke a little about the missions and what the characters will be able to do in L.A. instead of Ney York or Miami.
He stated that is it a long process which will first look at where will these plots be based and developed. Based on this, the missions and standpoints of the characters will be developed, and the game will take shape. However, Leslie did not clearly state that he was referring to GTA 6 when he made the statements.
The development of the 6th installment was majorly based on Leslie Benzies’ idea and vision but now that he is no longer a part of the venture, the questions rise if Rockstar will go ahead with the franchise will continue the way it was before him.
It is only suggested that these ideas are in the course of close discussion and the decisions are yet to be made. A title is also awaited sometime between 2018 and 2020. Rumors suggest that the next title release may coincide with the release of the next-generation PS5 and Xbox Two.