The release date of the latest installment to the “Grand Theft Auto” video game franchise most probably will be pushed back because one of Rockstar’s most influential executives, Leslie Benzies, has left the company for good.
Kotaku reports that the Rockstar North President has decided not to come back to the company after taking a 17-month long sabbatical leave.
Rockstar has issued a statement saying that Benzies went on sabbatical leave in September 2014 and has decided not to return to work for the company anymore.
The company has recognized the executive’s contributions to Rockstar over the last two decades.
Benzies’ team of game developers in the Scotland-based studio has been crucial to developing the “GTA” franchise and many other video games in the Rockstar stable.
Rockstar North has also been responsible for several big gaming franchises such as “Manhunt” and “Red Dead Redemption.”
Benzies’ resignation spells a delay in the release of “GTA 6” as the company needs to fix their executive board before launching. Leslie’s place was taken over by art director Aaron Garbut and animation director Rob Nelson.
According to Neurogadget, there have been rumors suggesting that “GTA 6” will no longer be launching for the current gaming consoles, the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Instead, the action-adventure video game is set to hit the Xbox Two and the PlayStation 5.
The PlayStation 5 is already in development after a job opening was spotted for a senior game developer over at Sony.
As per Vine Report, Microsoft’s former chief officer of Xbox Robbie Bach has hinted that the successor to the latest gaming console may already be under development as well and may be in a lot of ways different than its predecessor.
Bach hinted that the upcoming Xbox Two will possibly be equipped with the support for virtual reality. It will also be equipped with AMD processors and may become disc-less.
If “GTA 6” will indeed launch with the higher-tier gaming consoles, then ardent gamers can look forward to 4k resolutions for the game thus resulting to crisper and better graphics.
Christian Post reports that the sixth addition to the “GTA” franchise is still in development and will not be released anytime soon. Its predecessor, “GTA 5” was released back in 2013.
When “GTA 5” was released, it was initially available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
A year later after its release, it was launched for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and in April of last year, it was made available for Microsoft Windows.
Earlier reports suggest that the game will be available at the earliest by 2018, however, some reports say that the game will not see the light of day before 2020 to coincide with the releases of both the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Two.
Reports say that Rockstar would have to hold off the developmental process of the game for some time until they can acquire a clear knowledge of the technical aspects of the new game consoles for the game to be compatible with it.
It’s been custom for both Microsoft and Sony to release a new gaming console every seven years. With the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 released in 2013, the next-generation gaming consoles are expected to hit the market sometime in 2020.
While gamers have to wait a while until they get to play “GTA 6.”
Rumors have been constant that the game will include a female protagonist and that it will be portrayed by Hollywood actress Eva Mendes.
If this is indeed authentic, “GTA 6” will be the first game in the franchise to include a female protagonist.
To compliment Mendes’ rumored involvement, rumors have also been rife that her real-life partner Ryan Gosling will be voicing the lead male character.