The anticipation for the sixth Grand Theft Auto mainline installment continues to build. It's no secret that fans have long-awaited more info about GTA 6 since its confirmation last year.
But, many may wonder why the game's development seems to be taking longer than expected. After all, the gap between previous mainline titles was only 3-5 years, at most. But, as it turns out, there's a perfectly good reason for this.
According to the Take-Two Interactive CEO, Strauss Zelnick, Rockstar Games' relentless drive and determination to settle for nothing less than the best is the reason for GTA 6's extended development time.
To quote Zelnick:
I think that's a challenge that the folks that Rockstar face every time there's a new iteration of Grand Theft Auto. It needs to be something you've never seen before on the one hand, and it needs to reflect the feeling that we have about Grand Theft Auto. That's a big challenge for the team. Now, Rockstar's answer is just seek perfection; seek nothing short of perfection, and we'll get there.
It's essential to understand that game development, particularly for high-profile franchises like GTA is an intricate and meticulous process.
The world of gaming has changed significantly in recent years. As the demand for a better and bigger game grows, so does the budget. Rockstar finds itself having to deal with the rising bar for quality that it raised itself many years ago.
Rockstar not only has to one-up everyone else within the gaming industry but it also has to guarantee that GTA 6 lives up to expectations as the new creative benchmark in the entire gaming industry.
This is a tall task for anyone, even for Rockstar. But, this is the reality the developers have to deal with. It's not just enough that GTA 6 is bigger and more packed with content. It has to be a better game in every way as well. The commitment to make this happen naturally extends the development period of GTA 6.
As this level of immersion requires an absurd amount of effort and attention to detail, GTA 6 is bound to take longer than the usual game.
Ultimately, it's clear Rockstar is taking its time to ensure it can deliver a new as well as an exciting groundbreaking entry in the beloved series. The extended development period allows the company to focus on creating an all-time gaming experience filled with the rich stories, engaging characters, and stunning visuals associated with the GTA name.
But, the wait might not be any longer than expected. Aside from the earlier leaks, Take-Two itself hinted that GTA 6 might be coming out within the next two years. In its most recent annual earnings report, Take-Two is expecting a huge jump in its earnings for the fiscal year 2025. This may or may not be because of GTA 6. However, very few games can move the financial needle by the millions quite like GTA can.
If we believe the rumors, GTA 6 could be revealed later this year ahead of its release sometime in late 2024.
