Rockstar Games is being cagey about confirming Grand Theft Auto 6, but make no mistake, a sixth main installment in the long-running Grand Theft Auto franchise is definitely going to happen. The crime-focused action-adventure series is Rockstar’s most popular and profitable intellectual property.
Taking that into account, it’s safe to say that Rockstar already has plans to develop Grand Theft Auto VI, but they’re not ready to reveal those plans just yet, which makes sense. After all, they’re currently preoccupied with getting Red Dead Redemption 2 out to consumers, but that hasn’t stopped a bunch of rumors and reports from leaking details about the inevitable sequel.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Could Release In 2021/2022
Grand Theft Auto VI hasn’t been confirmed to be in development just yet, which also means that it doesn’t have a release date. However, a recent rumor from YouTube channel The Know indicated that the sequel is being targeted for a 2021 or 2022 release. If anything, it will probably be the latter. Rockstar seldom meets their initial target dates for games, and it makes sense if they are looking to develop other titles in the meantime.
While the first batch of games leading up to Grand Theft Auto III were all released within a few years of each other, Rockstar North really likes to take their time with each installment, which is why there was a four-year gap between San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV, and a five-year gap between IV and Grand Theft Auto V.
If Grand Theft Auto VI releases in 2022, that would be a nine-year gap between main installments - the longest gap in the franchise’s history - but it’s worth noting that Rockstar continued to develop (read: milk) Grand Theft Auto V until 2015 when they finally released the game on PC. Plus, they routinely update Grand Theft Auto Online with new content - and will likely do so until VI releases. And this target release date also falls inline with rumors that Rockstar is looking to release GTA VI on next-gen consoles.
Grand Theft Auto 6 May Return to Vice City
Although initial rumors indicated that Grand Theft Auto VI could take place in either Tokyo or London, the latest rumor states that GTA VI will actually be based in Miami. Since Rockstar is known for altering their city landscapes and giving them different names, as they did by changing Los Angeles to San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto VI’s return to Miami could actually indicate a return to Vice City.
Remember, Vice City is the game universe’s stand-in for Miami; however, it’s also worth noting that Miami itself does exist as well, so it’s possible that when they say the sequel will be based in Miami, they could really mean… Miami. But that might disappoint fans who were hoping to see a return to Vice City in the future.
Furthermore, as the game is reportedly codenamed Project Americas, The Know’s source also says that players will be able to fly between Miami (or Vice City) and South America, though it’s unclear which countries players will be able to visit and how often they will be able to do so. It’s always possible that the location could just be for a specific mission or two.
Grand Theft Auto 6 May Feature a Female Protagonist
Over the years, speculation of a female protagonist finally being added to a Grand Theft Auto game has been routine before the announcements for each new installment. That appears to be the case for Grand Theft Auto VI. Or, at least that’s what the rumors are. Recent rumors suggest that the inevitable sequel will feature the series’ first female protagonist, but so far it’s unclear if GTA VI will follow in GTA V’s footsteps and have three (or more) playable protagonists, or return to the old games in which there was only one main character. Regardless of the legitimacy of the rumors, it’s certainly something that has been talked about for quite some time - and it’s not that far-fetched.
Rockstar has already discussed the potential of having a female protagonist in a Grand Theft Auto game. In 2013, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser told The Guardian: “In the future, could we do a game with a lead female character? Of course. We just haven’t found the right game for it yet, but it’s one of the things that we always think about. It didn’t feel natural for this game but definitely for the right game in the future – with the right themes, it could be fantastic.” So, at least fans know it’s on the table. But if that’s not in the cards, then fans may be interested in knowing that another rumor suggests players may be able to create their own characters, just as they are able to do in Grand Theft Auto Online.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Could Be in First-Person
One rumor that has been circling for quite some time is that Grand Theft Auto VI will release entirely in first-person, which is starkly different than the third-person perspective that franchise fans are used to having. While that seems unlikely, it’s possible that Rockstar may be inclined to include a first-person mode for players to use, particularly fans of first-person shooter games.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Might Include VR Capabilities
Virtual reality has been the “next step” in gaming for several years now. And while there have been certain advancements in the field, including games such as Alien: Isolation that are designed for virtual reality play, the technology has yet to hit the mainstream and be included in most triple-A titles. That can change by the time Grand Theft Auto VI comes out, since one rumor suggests that the new installment will be intended for VR play. If true, that rumor would fall inline with the rumor that the game will also include a first-person mode - for people who want to play in first-person but don’t have a VR headset.
There Isn’t a Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer Yet
At the moment, since the game hasn’t actually been announced yet, there isn’t a reveal trailer, teaser trailer, or a gameplay trailer. Given how Rockstar operates, though, if the game does release in 2021, then it’s possible that gamers could see the first announcement trailer sometime in 2019, about two years before its release.
More: Grand Theft Auto V: 15 Hidden Missions You Didn’t Know About
