With eight years of Grand Theft Auto V already behind gamers, the title is still holding up just as strong as ever. While Rockstar's popular open-world game saw great success upon launch with a critically-acclaimed single-player story, the title has seen its strongest success in its online multiplayer sandbox world that remains popular to this day.
As GTA Online continues to boast a large player base, Rockstar is preparing to re-release the title again, this time for PS5 and Xbox Series X. Despite the attention remaining on the franchise's fifth installment, many gamers continue to await the long-discussed Grand Theft Auto VI, which is believed to have been in development for some time.
While official comments on the long-awaited sequel remain scarce, recent months have seen a great increase in leaked information on the title. In that light, a recent leak may have revealed some critical information on the game's setting, release date, and post-launch plans.
POSSIBLE GTA VI DETAILS LEAKED
Gaming industry insider Tom Henderson published a video on YouTube revealing information he has learned from inside sources regarding the release date, setting, and future plans for Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI.
While gamers have been waiting since 2013 for a brand new Grand Theft Auto title, according to Henderson, they may be waiting some time longer as the long-awaited sequel isn't expected to release until 2025.
The long development of the game is believed to be down to a number of factors, one of which being the studio's greater focus on employee wellbeing, following widespread criticism of the intense working conditions on the lead-up to Red Dead Redemption 2's 2018 release.
Additionally, the reputable Battlefield and Call of Duty insider went on to reveal the game will take place in a modern-day Vice City, a Miami-inspired location that was last visited in 2002's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. While some have previously reported the sequel would return to the '80s, Rockstar has supposedly chosen the modern setting to allow full creative freedom in future content for the GTA Online successor.
Henderson also revealed that much like how Fortnite and other Battle Royale titles evolve their large-scale maps over time, Rockstar may do the same and evolve the world of Vice City over the game's life cycle.
Lastly, the insider noted that in terms of the single-player story, there is potential for Grand Theft Auto VI to once again feature multiple playable characters, much like the last installment in the franchise did with Michael, Franklin, and Trevor.
CAN GTA VI LIVE UP TO ALL THE HYPE?
Henderson has built a strong reputation as a reliable leaker in the gaming industry over recent years, having accurately reported information from both the Battlefield and Call of Duty franchises for several years. While Henderson's comments should be taken with a grain of salt, as with any rumors, there is a strong chance there is some credence to these claims.
The popular insider has previously reported that Grand Theft Auto VI will feature both a male and female main protagonist. If Henderson is to believe, this would mark the first time gamers are able to play as a woman in the single-player story, something previously only possible in GTA Online.
Given the modern standard for major titles to evolve greatly after release, including a changing world and frequent updates, it wouldn't be surprising to see Rockstar attempt this themselves. Vice City would certainly serve as an intriguing location to evolve over time, especially since the Miami-inspired city has previously only been visited in the '80s, meaning a modern interpretation would likely be drastically different.
With Rockstar still frequently updating Grand Theft Auto V's online mode and Red Dead Redemption 2, it shouldn't come as a shock to hear the long-awaited sequel is still several years away. The studio is set to release an expanded and enhanced version of the franchise's fifth installment on next-gen consoles soon, making it clear they remain committed to updating their existing releases.
With Grand Theft Auto V continuing to be a hit among fans and one of the most popular titles in the gaming space, it's safe to say anticipation is high for its successor. While it may be tough to follow up on such a successful title, Rockstar allowing themselves plenty of development time is a wise decision to ensure a release that tops the scale of its predecessor and properly utilizes the power of next-gen consoles.
Unfortunately, Rockstar Games holds a complete no-comment policy on any rumors or leaked information, meaning it will be some time before this information can be definitively validated.
While Grand Theft Auto VI might not hit stores until 2025, the franchise's fifth installment will drop on PS5 and Xbox Series X on November 11.