After the rumors that “Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6” would not come out in 2018 but instead will roll out in 2020 or 2021, the speculations about the open world action-adventure video game shifted again to the game’s possible settings.
Rockstar Games has not made any official pronouncement regarding the setting for “GTA 6” but previous reports have included plenty of possibilities including the entire US, London, Japan, and recently, Marseilles in France.
There were also previous reports saying that all the gameplay maps in the previous iterations of the game shall be combined to form the entire gameplay map for “GTA 6.”
However, all those settings appear to be mere speculations as the American game developer has yet to start on the development of the game or so the rumors say.
Of late, however, the London setting rumors have been greatly reinvigorated when reports came out that the London map has already been teased by Rockstar Games in its current game, the “GTA 5.”
In fact, some media outlets referred to the tease as Easter eggs for “GTA 6,” reports the Parent Herald.
In addition, the London setting rumors is strongly being supported by history as apparently, the franchise has had side stories or mission packs that had the UK capital as setting, particularly the “Grand Theft Auto: London 1969” and “Grand Theft Auto: London 1961” both released in 1999.
If and when the London setting materializes in the upcoming game of the franchise, then “GTA 6” would be the first time that a London gameplay map is given to a main game of the franchise.
Waiting for ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’
There are also current reports saying that the development team of Rockstar Games is said to be completing its work on “Red Dead Redemption 2” before it finally starts working on “GTA 6.”
There were also speculations saying that because of the continued success of “GTA 5” and “GTA Online,” Rockstar Games has decided to milk those games first before they finally start work on “GTA 6,” notes Game & Guide.
There are also reports saying that the development of “GTA 6” would further take a backseat even after the launch of “Red Dead Redemption 2” because Rockstar Games shall focus afterward on the development of the online map expansions of San Fierro and Las Venturas for “GTA Online.”
The expansion shall reportedly be released in October 2018. But before that, the Liberty City online map expansion would also be released in September 2017 or about the same time as the release of “Red Dead Redemption 2.”
Thus, instead of a 2018 release for “GTA 6,” a 2020 launch is still believed to be more feasible for the latest iteration to one of the world’s most successful video game franchises.
Not for a multi-million dollar game development company
But the real reason accordingly for the intentional delay in the release date of “GTA 6” is because “GTA Online” has been bringing tons of money to the developer ever since its release and continues to do so to this day.
In fact, reports have it that the online multiplayer game is funneling more than $700 million to the developer annually and it appears that the revenue stream is not slowing down anytime soon.
Because of the massive success of “GTA Online,” nobody would fault Rockstar for putting less priority on the development of “GTA 6.”
The online multiplayer game has become a suitable distraction for the development of the upcoming sixth installment of the most successful video game franchise in history.
For a multi-million dollar company like Rockstar Games, it is simply absurd to say that it has only a handful of development teams to focus on all the games. That would be spreading its manpower too thin, which does not sound like a multi-million game development company at all.