What Is GTA VI And Why Its Delay Has Sparked Frustration In Gaming Community?
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Fans, who were expecting GTA VI to launch in 2025, are disappointed over its delay, especially since Rockstar has made similar last minute delays in the past.
Rockstar Games has announced a major delay for GTA VI and pushed its release for an entire year. Fans, who were expecting the game to launch in 2025, are disappointed over this change, especially since Rockstar has made similar last minute delays in the past. The developer explained that the delay is necessary due to the high expectations and with so much excitement, the company wants to ensure the game leaves players satisfied. The previous game, Grand Theft Auto 5, continues to be popular and remains one of the best selling video games in history, which has raised the bar for the upcoming title.
GTA 6 And Years Of Production
The upcoming instalment will feature Lucia, the series' first female main character and will take players back to Vice City, a location based on Miami. The city was first seen in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City back in 2002. It is hard to say exactly when the developers started working on GTA VI, but many believe the early planning began around 2014, after the launch of GTA 5. If it's true, that would mean the game has been in development for close to 11 years.
In 2020, Rockstar executive Jennifer Kolbe told Kotaku that the company was working on a new game. During that time, she had said that the game will grow over time to help developers avoid long and stressful work hours. However, the company officially confirmed GTA VI in February 2022 and later shared the first trailer in 2023.
After it was first announced in 2011, the GTA 5 faced a delay and missed its planned release date by a few months, as the developers needed more time to improve it. It was finally released in November 2014. The story takes place in the fictional town of San Andreas, inspired by Los Angeles, and follows three main characters, Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton and Trevor Philips. Together, they plan and carry out heists while dealing with threats from a corrupt government group and dangerous criminals.
Fans Reactions
In the latest announcement, the GTA VI team mentioned, 'Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026. We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve."
Following the delay announcement, the news quickly started trending around the world. Some players showed support and said they were willing to wait for a better game. However, the majority are upset because Rockstar had been saying for a long time that the game will be ready in 2025.
Reacting to the post, a user wrote, 'If you are gonna delay it, at least give us some screenshots. This marketing strategy may be working for you, but it is painful for the fans."
Another shared, 'I think most gamers would actually prefer that y'all just release more GTA titles rather than take 13 years between games."
'On one hand, this is disappointing. On the other hand, I really hope this extra time means we get an incredible complete experience on launch, just like RDR2 was. Good luck on development, we will be there," a comment read.
An individual asked, 'Why would you as a company, have a whole ass trailer with a release year when you aren't ready? If you're gonna have a year in the trailer, at least make sure you can deliver."
One more added, 'I just smashed my TV in front of 30 guests at my party because of the game. My wife just took our crying kids and said they're all spending the week at a hotel. This delay has ruined my life and my expectations. I can't handle this anymore. Goodbye Rockstar. I am no longer a fan."
Guinness World Records Trivia
Even though GTA VI has faced several delays, it is not the game that took the longest to make. After Rockstar shared the news about the delay, Guinness World Records (GWR) posted a fun fact claiming that Duke Nukem Forever took even longer to be made, as it came out 14 years after it was first announced in 1997.
Replying to Rockstar, GWR wrote, 'Longest development period for a videogame? 14 years and 43 days. Officially announced on 28 April 1997 by developer 3D Realms, the FPS 'Duke Nukem Forever' was finally released on 10 June 2011."
Despite the disappointing news, GTA VI is expected to set new sales records when it finally comes out. Many believe it could even surpass the GTA 5 record, which had the biggest and most successful launch.
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First Published:
May 03, 2025, 15:40 IST
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