Can you believe it? Last month marked a whole decade since the initial release of Grand Theft Auto 5: GTAV on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
This game has undoubtedly etched itself into the annals of recent gaming history, boasting an impressive tally of over 160 million units sold throughout its lifespan. It’s garnered widespread acclaim from critics and has been embroiled in a seemingly endless string of controversies, thanks to the involvement of its developer, Rockstar Games, and its parent company, Take-Two.
GTA Online, the game’s immensely popular multiplayer mode, continues to thrive, standing as a testament to its enduring appeal. Rockstar consistently injects fresh updates and content, keeping players engaged and entertained. In fact, in line with the anniversary, Rockstar announced new content for GTA Online commemorating the auspicious occasion: new outfits; GTA V-themed weapon finishes; extra modes; a stock car called the Bravado Hotring Hellfire for GTA+ members; and other collectables and bonuses for playing certain missions.
What’s happened in ten years?
Since its initial release and resoundingly good reviews, Rockstar has also released the game to the latest two generations of Xbox and PlayStation consoles, enhancing the gaming experience with notable improvements, including the addition of ray tracing for enhanced graphics.
In a heartfelt anniversary statement, Rockstar expressed its gratitude towards the dedicated player community that has fuelled the enduring success of Grand Theft Auto V (GTAV) across multiple console generations.
The statement reads, “We would like to thank you, our players, for your incredible support over the years. This amazing community is the reason GTAV has thrived across multiple console generations and given us the opportunity to grow and update GTA Online with new features and content over these past 10 years, and your support is truly humbling.”
Rockstar went on to extend appreciation to anyone who has engaged with the world of Los Santos and Blaine County, whether through playing, streaming, role-playing, creating, or sharing, and raised a toast to many more adventures together.
GTAV has etched itself in the annals of gaming history as one of the best-selling games of all time, shipping over 185 million units across all versions. Originally launching on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013, it subsequently made its way to the PS4 and Xbox One in 2014, followed by a PC release in 2015. In 2022, the game received another re-release for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, complete with enhancements. Notably, GTAV has never found its way to the Nintendo Switch.
So where is GTV VI?
Currently, Rockstar remains discreet about its next GTA project, though a substantial hacker leak has hinted at a setting reminiscent of Vice City (a Miami-inspired locale) and a return to the multi-protagonist narrative approach, akin to the successful formula employed in GTAV. While financial reports from Take-Two Interactive suggest a potential launch window of 2024 or 2025 for GTA VI, concrete details remain elusive.
Take-Two Interactive CEO, Strauss Zelnick, offered insights into the challenges facing the Rockstar team, emphasizing the need for every new Grand Theft Auto iteration to deliver an unprecedented experience. He stated, “I think that’s the challenge that the folks at Rockstar face every time that there is a new iteration of Grand Theft Auto. It needs to be something you’ve never seen before. And it needs to reflect the feeling that we have about Grand Theft Auto—that’s a big challenge for the team. Rockstar’s answer is to seek perfection. Seek nothing short of perfection, and we’ll get there.”
Among the multitude of rumours circulating about Grand Theft Auto VI, one particularly intriguing speculation is the potential incorporation of a Fortnite-style evolving map. This concept suggests that Rockstar could regularly modify and update the game’s world map, mirroring the dynamics seen in live-service games that frequently refresh their content to keep players engaged and the experience ever-evolving.
