While most developers are avoiding GTA 6's release window, Ubisoft is viewing it as a potential catalyst for increased gaming interest.
With just over a year until the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in fall 2025, some companies are strategizing to avoid being overshadowed by the upcoming sequel, while others see it as a chance to ride the wave of its success.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, in a recent investor call, expressed a surprisingly positive outlook. He believes that the launch of GTA 6 could actually boost sales for other games, including Ubisoft's own titles.
What we see generally when GTA is coming [is that] more people come to play.
Guillemot cited the strong performance of Ubisoft's games during the launches of GTA V and its remastered edition as evidence of this "rising tide" effect. This theory is not without merit, or precedence which Ubisoft itself has experienced.
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, released just a month after GTA V in 2013, became one of the best-selling entries in the franchise, shipping over 11 million copies as of May 2014. Rather than cannibalizing sales, it could be argued that GTA's massive appeal expands the overall gaming market.
However, not everyone shares Ubisoft's optimism.
Xbox executive Matt Booty acknowledged that many in the industry are planning their release schedules around GTA 6, potentially adjusting dates to avoid direct competition. This highlights the immense gravitational pull of Rockstar's creation and its ability to influence the orbits of other major game releases.
Ubisoft's 2024 lineup is set, featuring the long-awaited Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows, but its 2025 slate remains a mystery. Speculation abounds about potential releases like a new Splinter Cell (one can always wish...) or Anno 1177: Pax Romana launching alongside GTA 6, but for now, it's all just guesswork.
All eyes will be on Take-Two Interactive's investor call on August 8. As the parent company of Rockstar Games, everyone will be waiting for any comments concerning GTA 6's development, pricing, or even a new trailer (fingers crossed!).
