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This article pertains to content due to appear in the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI.
The subject of this article is still developing and thus may be incomplete and/or not verified.
Logo-GTAVI
Logo-GTAVI

Grand Theft Auto series chronology of events
1961London 1961
1969London 1969
1986Vice City
1992San Andreas
1999Grand Theft Auto 2 (possibly)
2013Grand Theft Auto 2 (possibly)
2013–presentGrand Theft Auto Online
?Grand Theft Auto VI
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.

Grand Theft Auto VI[5] is an upcoming video game which will be published by Rockstar Games.[6] It is due to be the seventeenth installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, and the seventh HD Universe title of the series. The game's official name was revealed in the first trailer on December 4, 2023, at 6:00PM US Eastern Time.

Plot

The story is expected to follow criminal duo Lucia and her male accomplice, whose name has yet to be officially revealed. The game's synopsis is also currently unknown.

Setting

The game takes place in several counties in the State of Leonida, including Vice-Dale County (home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City).

To date, three counties have been identified by name via trailers and promotional material. The entire playable area of Leonida has yet to be officially revealed.

Development

The game was first confirmed to be under active development by Rockstar Games on February 4, 2022, with a promise to provide more details in the future.[7] On July 7, 2022, in a further post on their Newswire, Rockstar confirmed that over the past few years, they had steadily been moving more resources and staff "towards the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series - understanding more than ever the need to exceed players’ expectations and for this next entry to be the best it can possibly be".[8] Development was confirmed to still be active development by two quarterly earnings calls by Take-Two Interactive on August 8, 2022 and May 17, 2023. Take-Two asserted that Rockstar Games was "determined to set creative benchmarks for the series, industry and entertainment.[9] In the May 17th call, Take-Two also confirmed that they were expecting to release a number of "ground-breaking titles" in Fiscal Year 2025 which will "allow us to achieve over $8 billion in Net Bookings", which a portion of the GTA community believed to be a soft confirmation of the game's general release timeline.[10]

With the release of the game's first trailer on December 4, 2023, the game's official name, Grand Theft Auto VI, was finally confirmed.[5] Shortly after the trailer's release, Take-Two Games published their acclamation on Rockstar Games' upcoming 2025 release.[6] Several variants of the game's logomark were trademarked on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website on December 4 and 5, 2023.[11][12]

On May 16, 2024, Take Two Interactive narrowed the release date of GTA VI from Fiscal Year 2025 to the Fall of Calendar Year 2025 in their Q4 Earnings Presentation.[2]

Announcement

With the unprecedented longevity of GTAV, we know many of you have been asking us about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series. With every new project we embark on, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we have previously delivered — and 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.
On behalf of our entire team, we thank you all for your support and cannot wait to step into the future with you!
— Rockstar Games

The first official announcement for the next Grand Theft Auto title was in February 2022, on the Rockstar Newswire.[7] On November 8, 2023, in a thank you post celebrating Rockstar Games' 25th anniversary, Rockstar confirmed that the first trailer for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto game would be released in "early December" of the same year.[13]

On December 1, 2023, Rockstar further confirmed that the first trailer for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto game would be released on December 5, 2023 at 9:00 AM US Eastern Time.[14] A one-time overlay appeared on Rockstar's official website, featuring palm trees against a sunset backdrop, with the trailer date and time displayed. Subsequent to the trailer announcement, Rockstar Games concealed all previous posts on their Instagram feed.

Trailer 1 release

The first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI was released on December 4, 2023. The trailer was scheduled for a December 5 YouTube Premiere, but less than 16 hours before Trailer 1's scheduled release, the trailer was leaked online.[15] Almost immediately, Rockstar Games brought ahead the trailer's release, and shortlisted the YouTube Premiere at 6:00 PM US Eastern Time on December 4.[16]

The trailer amassed over 90 million video views within its first 24 hours, making it the second most viral YouTube video of all time.[17]

Controversy

September 2022 leaks

On September 18, 2022, a new user on GTAForums.com called 'teapotuberhacker' posted download links to over 90 videos and screenshots purporting to be of the next Grand Theft Auto game. This apparent leak spread like wildfire across the internet in a single day, with countless news outlets reporting the leak as one of, if not the "biggest in video game history".[18][19][20] The leaked videos showed behind-the-scenes development logs of the next Grand Theft Auto and revealed details such as character and location names. Within hours, Take-Two Interactive issued takedown notices for any sites hosting the videos and/or still images[21] and the GTA Forums threads were removed and/or locked at Take-Two's request.[22] One day later, on September 19, 2022, Rockstar Games released a statement condemning the hacker and promised players that disruption to live game services or upcoming titles was not expected at this time. They also promised to introduce players to the game "when it is ready".[23] Take-Two Interactive also filed notice of the breach[24] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19.

The hacker's identity was eventually revealed to be Arion Kurtaj, a 17-year-old boy from Oxfordshire who has acute autism and performed the data breach using just an Amazon Firestick, mobile phone and a hotel TV. In December 2023, he was placed under an indefinite hospital order by a judge for being a high public risk as he expressed intent to continue cybercrime.[25] Another Lapsus$ member, who is 17 and cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty in the same trial of two counts of fraud, two Computer Misuse Act offences and one count of blackmail. He was sentenced to a youth rehabilitation order at Guildford crown court in Surrey on December 21, 2023.[26]

Trailer 1 leak

On December 4, 2023, less than 16 hours before Trailer 1's scheduled release, GTA VI's first trailer was leaked online.[15] The leaked trailer was a lower quality version of the eventual official release, with the words "BUY $BTC" written in large letters across the footage. Soon after the footage was more heavily circulated, Rockstar Games brought ahead their premiere to 6:00 PM EST later that day.[16] Multiple Rockstar employees took to social media to exclaim their frustrations at the leaks the day after, as well as to celebrate the official release of the trailer.[27] Later on, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take Two Interactive, would comment that believed the leak ultimately did not hurt the game's reception or the development team, though it was "disappointing".[28] In June 2024, industry insider Tom Henderson from Insider Gaming reported that YouTube had recently conducted two internal investigations into its employees potentially breaching contractual agreements by accessing backend data. The latter investigation was reportedly conducted "soon after" the Trailer 1 leak, sparking rumors that this incident was the event that motivated this investigation.[29]

Music

On February 25, 2024, the canvas for Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell" on Spotify was replaced with the GTA VI logo, leading many people to believe the song was to be used in the game's second trailer.[30] The change went viral on social media, leading to Anita's management dismissing the claims via Spotify several days later.[31]

On September 7, 2024, Martyn Ware, founder of the English synth-pop band Heaven 17, claimed members had been offered $7,500 each by Rockstar Games to use their hit song "Temptation" in the game, including a buyout of any future royalties earned from the game.[32][33] He later claimed to have made a counter-offer, which Rockstar refused. The post caused outrage online, with many claiming that they "made a bad decision", while others claimed he "did good" by refusing the offer.[34]

Gallery

Artworks

Trailers

Main article: /Trailers

Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1

Trivia

  • The game was first confirmed to be set in the HD Universe through debug test footage for an idle dialogue scenario that appeared in the September 2022 GTA VI leaks, with direct mentions of the Jay Norris Incident.[35]
  • The game features the first voiced female protagonist of the series (previous female protagonists were depicted as silent criminals).
  • The game appears to be the first numbered title since Grand Theft Auto III to use the "subtitle version" of GTA's Pricedown logo.
  • Following Rockstar Games' confirmation of the release date for the upcoming GTA's first trailer, a number of game studios posted dummy trailer/update announcements on X with almost identical styles, color schemes and release dates to that of the upcoming GTA title's announcement. These included Mediatonic's Fall Guys[36], 343 Industries' Halo[37], and Raven Software's Call of Duty.[38]

External Links

References

  1. Rockstar Studios is a collaborative effort between several Rockstar Games development groups functioning as one unit, under supervision and assistance from Rockstar North, the creators of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2
    Website
    (05/16/2023)
    https://ir.take2games.com/static-files/c189ec33-cb0d-44a0-8d20-2d3352836999
    Take Two Interactive Q4 2024 Earnings Presentation
  3. Although not confirmed by Rockstar Games themselves, the September 2022 leaks suggest this protagonist is called "Jason".
  4. Website
    (12/04/2023)
    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231204993583/en/
    "Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto VI, Coming 2025" - Business Wire
  5. 5.0 5.1
    YouTube
    (12/04/2023)
    Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1
    Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1 on YouTube
  6. 6.0 6.1
    Website
    (12/04/2023)
    https://www.take2games.com/ir/news/rockstar-games-announces-grand-theft-auto-vi-coming-2025
    Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto VI - Coming 2025 - Take2 Games
  7. 7.0 7.1
  8. Rockstar Games website
    (07/07/2022)
    https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/9k74k52737912k/grand-theft-auto-and-red-dead-online-community-update
    '"Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Online Community Update" - Rockstar Newswire
  9. Website
    (08/08/2022)
  10. Website
    (05/17/2023)
  11. Website
    (12/05/2023)
    https://uspto.report/TM/98298472
    GRAND THEFT AUTO VI - Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc Trademark Registration - uspto.report
  12. Website
    (12/05/2023)
    https://uspto.report/company/Take-Two-Interactive-Software-Inc/page/VI
    Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc Trademarks & Logos - uspto.report
  13. Rockstar Games website
    (11/08/2023)
  14. Rockstar Games website
    (12/01/2023)
    https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/259813k455k581/trailer-1-tuesday-december-5-9am-et
    TRAILER 1. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5. 9AM ET. - Rockstar Newswire
    GTAVI-Dec2023-Trailer1Announcement-RockstarWebsite

    Temporary website overlay alongside the trailer announcement.

  15. 15.0 15.1
    Website
    (12/04/2023)
    https://insider-gaming.com/gta-6-trailer-leaked-online/
    GTA 6 Trailer Leaked Online - Inside Gaming
  16. 16.0 16.1
    X (formerly Twitter)
    (12/04/2023)
    https://twitter.com/RockstarGames/status/1731813331244085531
    Rockstar Games on Twitter, December 4, 2023
  17. Website
    (12/06/2023)
    https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/gta-6-trailer-record-over-90-million-views-in-24-hours-breaks-this-unique-record-11701825345359.html
    GTA 6 trailer records over 90 million views in 24 hours, breaks THIS unique record. - Livemint, December 6, 2023
  18. Website
    (09/23/2022)
    https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-another-alleged-gta-6-leak-this-time-with-video/
    Huge GTA 6 leak includes gameplay footage of robbery, Vice City locations, and two playable characters - PC Gamer, September 23, 2022
  19. Website
    (09/18/2022)
    https://www.ign.com/articles/gta-6-gameplay-videos-reportedly-leak-grand-theft-auto
    GTA 6: Gameplay Videos Reportedly Leak - IGN, September 18, 2022
  20. Website
    (09/18/2022)
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2022/09/18/gta-6-suffers-massive-leak-of-90-gameplay-videos/?sh=11ae2f2511e4
    ‘GTA 6’ Suffers Massive Leak Of 90 Gameplay Videos - Forbes, September 18, 2022
  21. X (formerly Twitter)
    (09/18/2022)
    https://twitter.com/morsmutual_/status/1571507952816918530
    MMI on X, September 18, 2022
    GTANext-Sept2022Leak-TakeTwoTakedowns

    YouTube takedown requests from Take Two Interactive.

  22. X (formerly Twitter)
    (09/19/2022)
    https://x.com/RockstarGames/status/1571849091860029455
    Rockstar Games on X, September 19, 2022
    RockstarGames-Statement190922

    Rockstar Games statement from September 19, 2022 regarding leaked footage.

  23. Website
    (09/19/2022)
    https://taketwointeractivesoftwareinc.gcs-web.com/static-files/d38e10c9-4abe-407f-9f3a-7f16f3118e20
    TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC. - UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION - September 19, 2022
  24. Website
    (12/21/2023)
    https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67663128
    Lapsus$: GTA 6 hacker handed indefinite hospital order - BBC News, December 21, 2023
  25. Website
    (12/21/2023)
    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/21/british-teenager-behind-gta-6-hack-receives-indefinite-hospital-order
    British teenager behind GTA 6 hack receives indefinite hospital order - The Guardian, December 21, 2023
  26. Website
    (12/05/2023)
    https://www.ign.com/articles/this-fking-sucks-rockstar-devs-bemoan-gta-6-trailer-leak
    "This F**king Sucks" — Rockstar Devs Bemoan GTA 6 Trailer Leak - IGN, December 5, 2023
  27. Website
    (02/04/2024)
    https://www.ign.com/articles/take-two-ceo-says-gta-6-trailer-leak-was-disappointing-but-ultimately-i-dont-think-it-hurt-us
    Take-Two CEO Says GTA 6 Trailer Leak Was "Disappointing," "but Ultimately I Don't Think It Hurt Us" - IGN, February 4, 2024
  28. Website
    (06/03/2024)
    https://insider-gaming.com/how-youtube-leaks-work/
    How YouTube’s New Gaming Leak Culture Actually Works - Insider Gaming, June 3, 2024
  29. Website
    (02/25/2024)
  30. Website
    https://www.dexerto.com/gta/anita-ward-responds-to-gta-6-trailer-2-rumors-after-vi-logo-appears-on-her-spotify-2561442/
    Anita Ward responds to GTA 6 trailer 2 rumors after VI logo appears on her Spotify
  31. Website
    (09/07/2024)
    https://www.ign.com/articles/rock-star-tells-rockstar-to-go-f-yourself-after-extremely-low-offer-to-use-hit-song-in-gta-6
    Rock Star Tells Rockstar to ‘Go F*** Yourself’ After ‘Extremely Low’ Offer to Use Hit Song in GTA 6
  32. X (formerly Twitter)
    (09/07/2024)
    https://x.com/martynware/status/1832360363179868488
    I was recently contacted by my publishers on behalf of Rockstar Games re the possibility of using Temptation on the new Grand Theft Auto 6

    Naturally excited about the immense wealth that was about to head my way, I scrolled to the bottom of the email re the offer...

    IT WAS $7500 - for a buyout of any future royalties from the game - forever...

    To put this in context, Grand Theft Auto 6 grossed, wait for it...

    $8.6 BILLION

    Ah, but think of the exposure…

    Go fuck yourself
  33. Timestamp
    (05/10/2024)
    00:00:05
    americas 2022-09-06 17-13-34.mp4
  34. X (formerly Twitter)
    (12/01/2023)
    https://twitter.com/fallguysgame/status/1730643986258227592
    Fall Guys on X, December 1, 2023
    FallGuys-Dec2023-TrailerAnnouncement-X

    Fall Guys announcement image from December 1, 2023.

  35. X (formerly Twitter)
    (12/01/2023)
    https://twitter.com/Halo/status/1730684560730436095
    343 Industries on X, December 1, 2023
    HaloInfinite-Dec2023-TrailerAnnouncement-X

    Halo announcement image from December 1, 2023.

  36. X (formerly Twitter)
    (12/01/2023)

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The Lost and DamnedJohnny Klebitz | Liberty City | Alderney | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Radio stations | Achievements/Trophies | Cheats
The Ballad of Gay TonyLuis Fernando Lopez | Liberty City | Alderney | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Radio stations | Achievements/Trophies | Cheats
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown WarsHuang Lee | Liberty City | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Radio stations | Cheats
Grand Theft Auto VMichael De Santa | Trevor Philips | Franklin Clinton | Southern San Andreas (Los Santos (County) | Blaine County) | State of North Yankton (Ludendorff) | Characters | Gangs | Missions | Weapons | Vehicles | Radio stations | Achievements/Trophies | Cheats
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Grand Theft Auto VILucia | Unnamed male accomplice | State of Leonida (Vice-Dale County | Kelly County | Leonard County) | Characters | Missions | Vehicles | Weapons | Radio stations | Achievements/Trophies | Cheats
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