A former Rockstar North environment artist, David O'Reilly, revealed that he worked on GTA 6 between 2018 and 2023, indicating that the project may have begun full-scale production only after the release of Red Dead Redemption 2. This information contradicts speculation that the game was in development since 2013, when GTA 5 was released.
- GTA 6 will have Vice City and five more regions on the map
- GTA 6 breaks record with second game trailer
While pre-production may have begun years earlier, most of the Rockstar Games team was focused on Red Dead Redemption 2 until its release in 2018. Therefore, it's likely that GTA 6 had an effective production cycle of around eight years, considering its target release date of 2026.
Rockstar faced challenges in developing GTA 6
The COVID-19 pandemic and a massive data breach in 2022 significantly impacted Rockstar Games' schedule. These events delayed internal processes and required team adjustments, extending the time needed to complete the game. Even so, eight years still represents a long period compared to the rapid releases of the PS2 era.
In the 2000s, Rockstar managed to release GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas in just four years. However, the complexity of today's games, with ultra-realistic graphics and richly detailed open worlds, justifies the delay. The difference in scope between older and newer titles is enormous.
Expectations and marketing heat up for the launch of GTA 6
Rockstar Games has already kicked off its promotional campaign with two trailers that broke viewing records. The second video, released recently, reinforced the hype surrounding the game and confirmed that marketing will continue until its official launch. The strategy aims to keep fans engaged while the team finalizes the final details.
With a clearer development cycle and overcome challenges, GTA 6 promises to be a milestone for the gaming industry. Although the wait is long, the expectation is that the result will be worth it, delivering an experience worthy of Rockstar's technological and creative evolution.
