Grand Theft Auto or GTA as it is more commonly known has been one of the most recognisable franchises in gaming history. It has developed hugely from an overhead platform shooter to an in depth multi story game where graphics could confuse a passerby for being in New York or LA. However, fans have waited an eternity for GTA VI but still there has been no news. Will Rockstar release the game anytime soon or keep rehashing GTA V?
It is has brought people to log in to new betting websites to see the latest of odds of when GTA might actually be released because there is a severe lack of recent speculation. Rockstar have made no quick judgements about when the next installment will be released so it could be a while yet.
The History of GTA
GTA has captured the hearts of gamers ever since its inception in 1997. It was first developed by DMA design and they released the first three installments. However, in 2002 the franchise was bought by Rockstar who really made the game their own and when they released GTA: Vice City it was an instant hit.
Vice City was cool, hip and a throwback to the 80s with great references to Scarface. Vice city sold 1.4 million copies, making it the fastest-selling game in history at the time. By 2004, the game had sold 5.97 million units and by December 2007 it had sold 8.20 million. The figures are quite striking considering that the next installment San Andreas had been out for four years.
San Andreas was equally as addictive and equally as cool with a different storyline still being able to grab the attention of the player. With an average rating of 95/100 by gamers, IGN even voted it a 9.9/10, the highest PS2 game rating ever, it was again like Vice City and instant success. It was the top selling game of 2004.
GTA IV was the first game to be exclusively released on PS3 and Xbox 360 and it was a next step for graphics and gameplay. Everything felt smoother and ultimately more playable than the amazing previous two installments. It is now among the bestselling games of all time with over 25 million copies sold.
Finally the last installment released all the way back in 2013 was GTA V. A commercial, a cultural and gaming success. It was one of the standout games on the PS4 and Xbox One with its action packed story mode and even more extensive online gameplay. It was met with critical acclaim and as of September 2021, the game has sold over 155 million copies worldwide across all platforms; more copies were sold in 2020 than any other year since the game’s launch in 2013. In 2021, it was the most downloaded game for the PS4.
So what is next?
GTA V is one of a kind. It has no spread across three different generations of consoles. It has been kept alive by Rockstar for over 9 years now, the longest any GTA game has gone before the new one has come out.
It is understandable that funds and resources have been used elsewhere like Red Dead Redemption 2 and the remastered Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. It is also understandable that the servers that Rockstar run are filled with gamers on GTA V Online and Red Dead Redemption 2 Online.
However, it feels like gamers have been palmed off by the makers and told here you go deal with this again but oh wait we have made the graphics slightly better for you. Realistically somebody could have bought this game three times, depending on what console they owned in 2013.
GTA VI is a real urgency for fans to believe in Rockstar again because we all know they make amazing games.
Is there going to be a GTA VI?
It was fully expected that GTA VI would be the flagship game for the new generation but that did not come to fruition. But In an official statement, Rockstar have said: “We are pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway. We look forward to sharing more as soon as we are ready, so please stay tuned to the Rockstar Newswire for official details.”
However, there is still no artwork or trailer for the game. If the rumour mill is to be believed it could be until 2024 or even 2025 that the next installment is brought to our screens. So get your bets on!
Rockstar might have some more tricks up their sleeve to keep players interested in GTA V as it approaches its 10th anniversary next year.