GTA 6: Everything We Know About One of the Most Anticipated Games of Our Time

Rockstar has announced the first trailer for GTA 6, which is set to be released in early December. We'll provide information about what is already known about the game and the expected release date.

The next installment of Grand Theft Auto will be officially unveiled in early December. At that time, they will also release the first trailer and possibly announce the release date. The announcement of the long-awaited action game is timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the game developer company, Rockstar Games.

In anticipation of December, we have compiled in one material everything that is known about the upcoming GTA 6 and why its release is considered one of the most anticipated events in the gaming calendar.

In fact, the announcement of GTA 6 took place back in February 2022 when Rockstar Games confirmed that the new installment was "in active development." In the summer of 2022, Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, reported that development was "in full swing." They also added that Rockstar Games is "determined to once again set creative standards for the series, our industry, and the entire entertainment segment."

GTA 6 Leak: What We've Learned

Rockstar Games rarely shares information about their games. Apparently, the sluggishness in doing so had grown tiresome for some, and on September 18, 2022, what is arguably the biggest data leak in the history of the gaming industry occurred. This resulted in the release of dozens of videos and screenshots from a test version of GTA 6 on the internet.

For the "Rockstars," this was a nightmare come true. They didn't deny the breach and acknowledged that the leaked videos showcased an outdated version of the game (some materials indicate the build was dated 2021). Despite the scale of the leak, Rockstar confirmed that it had no impact on the game's development.

Naturally, over the course of a couple of years in development, story details and gameplay mechanics of the game could have changed, so the information from the leak should be taken with a reasonable degree of caution.

Setting and Plot of GTA 6

The setting of GTA 6 has been one of the hottest topics of discussion, and it seems like we'll be returning to Vice City. In leaked GTA 6 videos, a logo of an underground railway system with the inscription "Vice City Metro" was spotted. Eagle-eyed viewers even noticed familiar locations from GTA 3: Vice City, such as the "Malibu" club, the "Ocean View" hotel, and Little Haiti.

One of the main gaming insiders, Jason Schreier, also confirmed that Vice City will appear in the game, but in its modern version rather than the 1980s setting. In one of the leaked videos, you can indeed see pedestrians with smartphones and contemporary clothing. However, the events of GTA: Vice City took place in 1986.

While the final version of the GTA 6 map is not known, the September leak suggests that the game world will extend beyond Vice City. The original version of the city from the 2002 game was based on Miami (USA), and the GTA 6 version will venture further south into the Everglades (swampland) and the Florida Keys (tropical islands) – other iconic locations in the state of Florida. They were mentioned in the original GTA: Vice City's radio broadcasts but were not shown in the game.

Overall, it is expected that the GTA 6 map will be much larger than that of GTA 5. If the game world in GTA 5 is approximately 80 square kilometers, some reports suggest that in GTA 6, this figure could increase to around 200 square kilometers. However, the exact portion of the map that will be accessible for exploration is not known for certain.

The main characters of GTA 6 - modern-day Bonnie and Clyde

Various sources, even before the leak, claimed that the new GTA would feature two main protagonists, and for the first time in the series, one of them would be a woman. Their names are known - Jason and Lucia, and it appears that the game will reintroduce the character-switching system from GTA 5.In one of the leaked videos, they are shown robbing a diner together: the player controls one character, and the other is controlled by artificial intelligence. In another video, you can see the characters switching places - and this happens instantly, not with a delay as in GTA 5.

It is speculated that the character dynamic will be based on the story of Bonnie and Clyde, infamous criminals who operated during the Great Depression in the USA. Like them, Jason and Lucia will rob banks and build their criminal empire.

What is known about the gameplay of GTA 6

The gameplay of GTA 6 is built on the foundations of the 5th installment and Red Dead Redemption 2. Like in previous GTA games, players will be immersed in an open world, use firearms, commit robberies in stores, and drive vehicles.

Leaked videos also revealed some new mechanics. For example, stealth gameplay will be introduced - in one of the demonstrations, characters were seen crawling in a prone position and even hiding bodies to avoid detection. Additionally, new items for improving health, such as painkillers, will be available in the game.

GTA 6 will set a new standard for games and beyond

In the first two installments of the franchise, a distinctive top-down view was used, and Grand Theft Auto III marked the transition to 3D graphics. In subsequent entries, Rockstar invested in developing a cinematic style, hiring well-known film actors, and enhancing the cinematic quality of storytelling.

As competition in the Hollywood-style game genre has significantly increased over the past decade (as seen with titles like The Last of Us 2), players will expect Rockstar to raise its own standards and industry standards. The head of Take-Two is also confident that GTA 6 will set a new benchmark for all forms of entertainment, including movies.

There are a couple of concerns

Some insiders have suggested that at the time of GTA 6's release, it may be moderately scaled, and the map will be supplemented with new content and evolve with updates, somewhat like how it's done in Fortnite. Considering the massive success of GTA Online, Rockstar is likely to place a significant emphasis on online integration, which may not be to every player's liking.

There's also a concern that the new direction and the departure of Dan Houser, one of the founders of Rockstar, may have influenced the tone of the new installment. It's quite possible that it will be less satirical and provocative compared to previous entries.

When will GTA 6 be released and on which platforms

Take-Two's financial reports (the owner of Rockstar) indicate that the release of the sixth installment of GTA will take place "in the period from April 2024 to March 2025." However, insiders are confident that the game will be released in the fall of 2024.

Leaked gameplay footage was somewhat "rough" and riddled with errors, and Rockstar has promised to release the game in proper form "when it's ready." Moreover, the developers are not under immediate pressure for a rushed release, as GTA 5 continues to sell well, and GTA Online is generating more revenue than ever.

September materials mentioned the PS4 dev kit, but it's unlikely that the game will be released on the last generation of consoles. According to reliable insider Tom Henderson, GTA 6 is being developed only for PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5. It's also unlikely that the PC version will be delayed and released several years after the console versions.For now, we're awaiting the first trailer for GTA 6, set to be released in early December. There are no specific dates provided by the developers, but it seems that the trailer will be unveiled at The Game Awards 2023 opening ceremony, scheduled for December 7.