Latest news with #ObbeVermeij
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Former Rockstar Technical Director Thinks GTA 4 Should Be Remastered
Image via Rockstar Games. Is GTA 4 getting a remaster? At least, the rumors say so. But a former Rockstar Games veteran thinks the game should be remastered, irrespective of all the rumors. Right now the whole gaming world is hyped up about GTA 6. Initially the game was slated to be released in the fall of 2025. However, recently the game was hit with a surprise delay to May 26, 2026. But that didn't stop the hype train because Rockstar recently launched the highly awaited Trailer 2 of the game. Amidst all the fire-works regarding the upcoming title, some rumors are surfacing on the internet that GTA 4 might get a remastered version. Is it true? Former Rockstar dev wants GTA 4 to be remastered GTA 4 needs a remastered version. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The internet world is now filled with the rumors of GTA 4 getting a potential remastered version. However, former technical director at Rockstar Games, Obbe Vermeij, isn't aware of that. But when he heard about those rumors in the Twitter comment section, he also voiced his support for a remastered version of GTA 4, keeping in mind the recent numbers of successful remasters. Vermeij served Rockstar from 1995 to 2009. So, he was in the company from the very beginning of the Grand Theft Auto franchise and was one of the main architects behind GTA 4. So, who knows better about this highly underrated title than him? Highly underrated because GTA 4 never got the recognition it always deserved. It was a huge leap, both graphical and gameplay wise, from GTA 3. Some even consider GTA 4 to be the best game in the franchise. Yes, GTA 4 might never match the expansiveness or the visual quality of GTA 5, but the way it took people to the immense narrative depth was absolutely stunning. Not only that, unlike GTA 5, GTA 4 was run by only a single protagonist, Niko Bellic . And Vermeij himself thinks Niko is the best protagonist ever in the whole franchise. Even Rockstar itself never cared about this particular installment that much. Despite its narrative and gameplay brilliance, GTA 4 stands as probably the poorly optimized title of the franchise. This is the reason GTA 5 was released on PCs almost two years after its console release, and GTA 6 might take longer . GTA 4 is not even available on current gen consoles as well. Hence, a remastered version of this underrated title is needed. Read More: Is GTA 6 secretly bringing back a lost feature from GTA 4? This clip suggests yes Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
GTA 6 launch delayed: How other game publishers are trying to capitalise on the launch window
Rockstar-parent Take-Two Interactive recently announced the postponement of "Grand Theft Auto VI" ( GTA 6) from fall this year until May of the following year. Following this delay, rival game publishers are reportedly moving quickly to secure release dates for their games in the fall. The absence of Rockstar Games ' highly anticipated title from this year's lineup has created an opportunity for other games to avoid a direct clash and gain more prominence. A report claims that analysts and industry executives expect a wave of announcements for the fall release window. The delay has also provided "breathing room" in the fall schedule for other publishers to release their titles without competing directly with a potential blockbuster, the report adds. However, Rockstar has released the second trailer of the upcoming game which received over 475 million views across platforms within 24 hours. The video had over 106 million views on YouTube alone at the time of writing. Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2 In a statement to the news agency Reuters, Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar Games, said: 'Publishers had delayed the announcement of the release dates of their games. Releasing after or even just before GTA VI would diminish their sales. Expect a number of announcements in the coming months of games that will now target fall release dates.' How other publishers are planning to use GTA 6's previous launch window Just days after Rockstar's GTA 6 postponement, Electronic Arts (EA) announced that its new Battlefield title will launch before EA's fiscal year ends in March 2026. Similarly, Take‑Two Interactive plans to release Mafia: The Old Country in the key September–early December window, which is traditionally bolstered by holiday sales. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Other developers, including Techland with 'Dying Light: The Beast' and Embracer with 'Killing Floor 3,' are targeting the same period, though many major titles can't shift schedules on short notice due to five‑ to seven‑year development cycles. As per the Reuters report, analysts suggest the slot may now favour expansion packs, remasters, and smaller studios with nearly finished projects. EA CEO Andrew Wilson noted the launch window is 'clearer than it was before,' and an NYU Stern professor estimated that Battlefield may sell 4–5 million units by March 2026, compared to 3–4 million if GTA 6 had released as planned. EA's annual franchises, such as its FC soccer and Madden NFL series, are also expected to face less direct competition during this timeframe, Reuters reports. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Videogame publishers rush to seize fall launch window after ‘GTA VI' delay
Days after Take-Two Interactive delayed the launch of 'Grand Theft Auto VI' to May next year, rival publishers are using that opportunity to lock in release dates for their games to avoid a direct clash with one of the industry's most anticipated titles. Analysts and industry executives told Reuters they expect a wave of announcements for the fall, as the absence of Take-Two-owned Rockstar Games' potential blockbuster from this year's lineup creates breathing room for other titles. 'Publishers had delayed the announcement of the release dates of their games. Releasing after or even just before GTA VI would diminish their sales,' said Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar Games. 'Expect a number of announcements in the coming months of games that will now target fall release dates.' Electronic Arts was the first to act last week, announcing four days after the 'GTA' delay that it would release its new 'Battlefield' title this fiscal year, which ends in March 2026. Take-Two is also planning to use that window to launch its other game, 'Mafia: The Old Country.' Other titles could also benefit, including Techland's 'Dying Light: The Beast' and Embracer's 'Killing Floor 3,' which have yet to lock in launch dates. The window from September to early December is a golden stretch for the gaming industry, buoyed by public holidays and a year-end shopping rush. But not many have the capacity to tap that opportunity for their new releases. Long development cycles for major titles – some of which can stretch from five to seven years – mean most big games cannot be rescheduled at short notice. Instead, the period may serve as a sweet spot for expansion packs, remastered titles and smaller studios, particularly for developers with games already nearing completion, analysts said. For established publishers like EA and Activision, the delay could come as a boon. Competing directly with a title as massive as 'GTA VI' could have dented sales of 'Battlefield'. EA's strategic timing with 'Battlefield' boosted its shares as investors cheered the return of the popular first-person shooter franchise. The company's CEO, Andrew Wilson, was not shy about the opportunity on a post-earnings call earlier this month. The launch window is 'clearer than it was before,' he said. Joost van Dreunen, games professor at NYU's Stern School of Business, expects EA to sell 4 million to 5 million units of the new 'Battlefield' by the end of fiscal year 2026, but believes it would have sold 3 million to 4 million units if 'GTA VI' had not been delayed. EA's annual releases such as the 'FC' soccer franchise and 'Madden NFL' will also have less competition in the period. 'It does create opportunity for them to maybe further monetize their games that have a live ops component to it, whether it's the sports games or things like Apex Legends,' said Chris Hewish, strategy chief at gaming fintech firm Xsolla and former studio head at VR game developer Survios. But a boost in sales for the publishers rescheduling their titles for fall 2025 is not guaranteed, as an increase in the number of launches would intensify competition at a time when consumers tighten budgets and get picky with buying new games. The delay of 'GTA VI' has also raised broader questions about the industry's growth prospects for 2025. The game was expected to be a sales juggernaut, drawing in billions within weeks and driving console sales. And its delay comes at a time when prices of popular consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation have already gone up in response to the hefty tariffs the U.S. has imposed on major manufacturing hubs including Japan, China and Vietnam. Sales of the consoles were declining already, and the price hikes could worsen that. Still, there have been some signs that gaming was proving resilient amid the economic uncertainty. Both Roblox and EA issued forecasts that were above Wall Street estimates, and some analysts said that titles stepping in for 'GTA VI' in the fall could help drive the industry's growth. 'There is an opportunity for that growth to be replaced by other titles … it creates space for other games to step in,' Hewish said.
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Videogame publishers rush to seize launch window after 'GTA VI' delay
Days after Take-Two Interactive delayed the launch of "Grand Theft Auto VI" to May next year, rival publishers are using that opportunity to lock in release dates for their games to avoid a direct clash with one of the industry's most anticipated titles. Analysts and industry executives told Reuters they expect a wave of announcements for autumn, as the absence of Take-Two-owned Rockstar Games' potential blockbuster from this year's lineup creates breathing room for other titles. "Publishers had delayed the announcement of the release dates of their games. Releasing after or even just before GTA VI would diminish their sales," said Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar Games. "Expect a number of announcements in the coming months of games that will now target fall release dates," he added. Electronic Arts was the first to act last week, announcing four days after the "GTA" delay that it would release its new "Battlefield" title this fiscal year, which ends in March 2026. Take-Two is also planning to use that window to launch its other game, "Mafia: The Old Country." Other titles could also benefit, including Techland's "Dying Light: The Beast" and Embracer's "Killing Floor 3," which have yet to lock in launch dates. The window from September to early December is a golden stretch for the gaming industry, buoyed by public holidays and a year-end shopping rush. But not many have the capacity to tap that opportunity for their new releases. Long development cycles for major titles - some of which can stretch from five to seven years - mean most big games cannot be rescheduled at short notice. Instead, the period may serve as a sweet spot for expansion packs, remastered titles and smaller studios, particularly for developers with games already nearing completion, analysts said. For established publishers like EA and Activision, the delay could come as a boon. Competing directly with a title as massive as "GTA VI" could have dented sales of "Battlefield". EA's strategic timing with "Battlefield" boosted its shares as investors cheered the return of the popular first-person shooter franchise. The company's CEO, Andrew Wilson, was not shy about the opportunity on a post-earnings call earlier this month. The launch window is "clearer than it was before," he said. Joost van Dreunen, games professor at NYU's Stern School of Business, expects EA to sell 4 million to 5 million units of the new "Battlefield" by the end of fiscal year 2026, but believes it would have sold 3 million to 4 million units if "GTA VI" had not been delayed. EA's annual releases such as the "FC" soccer franchise and "Madden NFL" will also have less competition in the period. "It does create opportunity for them to maybe further monetise their games that have a live ops component to it, whether it's the sports games or things like Apex Legends," said Chris Hewish, strategy chief at gaming fintech firm Xsolla and former studio head at VR game developer Survios. But a boost in sales for the publishers rescheduling their titles for fall 2025 is not guaranteed, as an increase in the number of launches would intensify competition at a time when consumers tighten budgets and get picky with buying new games. The delay of "GTA VI" has also raised broader questions about the industry's growth prospects for 2025. The game was expected to be a sales juggernaut, drawing in billions within weeks and driving console sales. Its delay comes at a time when prices of popular consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation have already gone up in response to the hefty tariffs the US has imposed on major manufacturing hubs including Japan, China and Vietnam. Sales of the consoles were declining already, and the price hikes could worsen that. Still, there have been some signs that gaming was proving resilient amid the economic uncertainty. Both Roblox and EA issued forecasts that were above Wall Street estimates, and some analysts said that titles stepping in for "GTA VI" in the fall could help drive the industry's growth.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Analysis-Videogame publishers rush to seize fall launch window after 'GTA VI' delay
By Zaheer Kachwala (Reuters) -Days after Take-Two Interactive delayed the launch of "Grand Theft Auto VI" to May next year, rival publishers are using that opportunity to lock in release dates for their games to avoid a direct clash with one of the industry's most anticipated titles. Analysts and industry executives told Reuters they expect a wave of announcements for the fall, as the absence of Take-Two-owned Rockstar Games' potential blockbuster from this year's lineup creates breathing room for other titles. "Publishers had delayed the announcement of the release dates of their games. Releasing after or even just before GTA VI would diminish their sales," said Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar Games. "Expect a number of announcements in the coming months of games that will now target fall release dates." Electronic Arts was the first to act last week, announcing four days after the "GTA" delay that it would release its new "Battlefield" title this fiscal year, which ends in March 2026. Take-Two is also planning to use that window to launch its other game, "Mafia: The Old Country." Other titles could also benefit, including Techland's "Dying Light: The Beast" and Embracer's "Killing Floor 3," which have yet to lock in launch dates. The window from September to early December is a golden stretch for the gaming industry, buoyed by public holidays and a year-end shopping rush. But not many have the capacity to tap that opportunity for their new releases. Long development cycles for major titles - some of which can stretch from five to seven years - mean most big games cannot be rescheduled at short notice. Instead, the period may serve as a sweet spot for expansion packs, remastered titles and smaller studios, particularly for developers with games already nearing completion, analysts said. BIG WINNERS For established publishers like EA and Activision, the delay could come as a boon. Competing directly with a title as massive as "GTA VI" could have dented sales of "Battlefield". EA's strategic timing with "Battlefield" boosted its shares as investors cheered the return of the popular first-person shooter franchise. The company's CEO, Andrew Wilson, was not shy about the opportunity on a post-earnings call earlier this month. The launch window is "clearer than it was before," he said. Joost van Dreunen, games professor at NYU's Stern School of Business, expects EA to sell 4 million to 5 million units of the new "Battlefield" by the end of fiscal year 2026, but believes it would have sold 3 million to 4 million units if "GTA VI" had not been delayed. EA's annual releases such as the "FC" soccer franchise and "Madden NFL" will also have less competition in the period. "It does create opportunity for them to maybe further monetize their games that have a live ops component to it, whether it's the sports games or things like Apex Legends," said Chris Hewish, strategy chief at gaming fintech firm Xsolla and former studio head at VR game developer Survios. But a boost in sales for the publishers rescheduling their titles for fall 2025 is not guaranteed, as an increase in the number of launches would intensify competition at a time when consumers tighten budgets and get picky with buying new games. The delay of "GTA VI" has also raised broader questions about the industry's growth prospects for 2025. The game was expected to be a sales juggernaut, drawing in billions within weeks and driving console sales. And its delay comes at a time when prices of popular consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation have already gone up in response to the hefty tariffs the U.S. has imposed on major manufacturing hubs including Japan, China and Vietnam. Sales of the consoles were declining already, and the price hikes could worsen that. Still, there have been some signs that gaming was proving resilient amid the economic uncertainty. Both Roblox and EA issued forecasts that were above Wall Street estimates, and some analysts said that titles stepping in for "GTA VI" in the fall could help drive the industry's growth. "There is an opportunity for that growth to be replaced by other titles ... it creates space for other games to step in," Hewish said. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
