Rockstar Games recently released a trailer for the open world Western action-adventure video game “Red Dead Redemption 2,” citing that the game’s official launching would be happening in the fall of next year.
Now reports have it that the confirmation by Rockstar of the development of “Red Dead Redemption 2” has somewhat pushed the development and eventual release date of the open world action-adventure video game “Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6” on the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One, and the PC from 2018 to 2020.
Apparently, Rockstar would be using its main game development contingent to complete the work on “Red Dead Redemption 2” and make sure that the game comes out flawless in the fall of 2017, reports the Christian Daily.
In addition, 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 an online map expansion of San Fierro and Las Venturas for “GTA Online,” details the Parent Herald.
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.”
The five-year gap
Thus, instead of a 2018 release for “GTA 6,” a 2020 launch is still believed to be more feasible for the latest installment to one of the world’s most successful video game franchises.
Over the past two years, the rumors about “GTA 6” have been quite consistent as far as its speculated release date is concerned.
Since it took American game developer Rockstar Games all of five years to develop “GTA 5” from “GTA 4,” it was assumed that the company would also need five years to develop “GTA 6.”
“GTA 5” came out to the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One and the PC in October 2013 so the general assumption was that “GTA 6” would likely come out in 2018.
However, that specific release date rumor is now being challenged by reports saying that Rockstar Games has decided to defer the unveiling of “GTA 6” to 2020 or even beyond to give it time to fine-tune and perfect the game.
There are also reports saying that Rockstar wanted the game to come out already capable of supporting VR or virtual reality technology which is why it needed all the time to make sure that the VR support comes out great.
Bringing tons of money to the franchise
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 upcoming sixth installment of the most successful video game franchise in history.
In addition, there is also the development of DLC for “GTA 5,” which received the massive “Biker” new content recently. There are also reports saying that another expansion entitled “Tuners and Outlaws” will also be coming to “GTA 5” soon.
And reports have it that the development of such content takes so much of the time of the Rockstar Games development team so it is almost impossible that they start working already on “GTA 6” when it is very clear to them that they are still not done yet with the predecessor game.
From the previous gameplay and character rumors about GTA 6,” speculations have switched to the side of game developer Rockstar Games.