Updated at: 19-04-2023 - By: Leo Hall

The most anticipated game for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S is Grand Theft Auto 6. Leaks continue to appear online nearly every week, despite there being no new information to confirm its development. Some fans are asking when GTA 6 will be released while others are content with a trailer.

Fans of the series had to wait nearly a decade for GTA 5, which was released in 2013 for Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles.

A 2020 Kotaku report covering crunch culture mentioned Rockstar’s plan for “a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series,” which all but confirmed the development of GTA 6. Since then, the internet has been rife with speculation.

Since then, a steady stream of leaks, including rumors about the game’s gameplay and possible radio stations, have surfaced online. Now that Rockstar Games has confirmed GTA 6 for real, let’s take a look at everything we know about the next installment in the series so far.

What’s Grand Theft Auto (GTA)?

The video game franchise known as Grand Theft Auto (GTA) was developed by Mike Dailly and David Jones. However, Dan and Sam Houser, along with Aaron Garbut and Leslie Benzies, oversaw the development of subsequent games in the series. Rockstar Games, the parent company, commissioned the main development of the game from the British studio DMA Design (now known as Rockstar North).

Grand Theft Auto games feature an open world where the player can choose to or must play and complete missions to advance the story. The unique and engaging nature of the game comes from the fact that you are not restricted to completing only the missions given to you.

GTA 6 release date, trailer, map and latest news

Since it’s a gangster-themed game, you can expect to do a lot of shooting and driving, with some role-playing and stealth thrown in for good measure. Cities from the 1960s to the 2010s serve as inspiration for the GTA series’ environments. New York City (called Liberty City in the game), San Francisco (called San Andreas), and Miami (called Vice City) make up the game’s original map. Later titles, however, shifted the emphasis to a single location, typically one of the original three cities but with extensive expansion and remodeling.

Each series’ protagonist is typically an up-and-comer in the criminal underworld, albeit with varying goals from book to book. In contrast, the game’s antagonist is typically a character who has betrayed either their group or the protagonist, or who plays a pivotal role in slowing or halting the protagonist.

Let’s jump right in and look back at the origins of the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise.

History of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) game series

GTA (Release Date: 1997)

In 1997, Grand Theft Auto made its debut on MS-DOS and Windows PCs. The GameBoy Colour and PlayStation versions followed.

The game took place in San Andreas, Vice City, and Liberty City, and was played from a top-down 2D perspective in a true open world. Travis, Katy, Bubba, Ulrika, Nikki, Divine, Troy, and Kivlo were all available to use as playable characters back then. What made GTA stand out was its open-ended nature; players weren’t limited to completing missions; they could instead cause mayhem by robbing banks, stealing cars, killing innocent bystanders, and so on. The game’s success was immediate, with 3 million copies sold.

GTA II (Release Date: 1999)

Two years after the original Grand Theft Auto’s 1997 release, in 1999, GTA II was released for PC, PlayStation, Dreamcast, and Game Boy Color. Only two million copies were sold, compared to ten million for the first GTA.

While adding new features, Grand Theft Auto IV kept the same level of freedom that let players do whatever they wanted. The year 2013 and the fictional city of Anywhere City from Grand Theft Auto II. There are three massive districts in the city, and if a player wants to travel between them, they’ll need to earn enough money, which can be done in a variety of ways.

The infamous star system was introduced in GTA II; it appears when the police are chasing you and can increase or decrease depending on your actions. Churches whose neon signs read “Jesus Saves” served as safe havens in the game.

GTA III (Release Date: 2001)

A portion of the primary series also made its debut on PS2 and Xbox before expanding to macOS, Windows, Android, PS3, and iOS. 5 million copies of Grand Theft Auto III were sold.

While both Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft Auto II were played from an overhead perspective, Grand Theft Auto III was the first game in the series to switch to a third-person, isometric view of its open world. The shift in viewpoint had a profound effect on every facet of the game, from exploration to driving.

The story of GTA III is the first in the series to focus on vengeance and advancement in the criminal ranks.

GTA: Vice City (Release Date: 2002)

The PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox versions of Vice City have collectively sold 5 million copies. Later, versions of the game were released for macOS, Android, and Fire OS.

GTA made some adjustments in an effort to raise the quality of the series. To begin, “GTA: Vice City” is the first Grand Theft Auto game to include authentic street gangs like bikers, Cubans, and Haitians. It’s the first show of its kind to allow players to rob multiple stores for the sake of fame or financial gain, including jewelry shops, gun shops, and drug stores.

GTA: Double Pack (Release Date: 2003)

The “GTA: Double Pack” is a collection of Grand Theft Auto games for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Both Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City were part of the two-game bundle. But neither of the two titles was revised or updated in any way.

GTA: San Andreas (Release Date: 2004)

Also a part of the main series, this installment has sold 5 million copies across multiple platforms and console generations.

The action unfolded in the fictional state of San Andreas, which was home to three major cities: Las Venturas, San Fierro, and Los Santos. San Andreas’ city map is second only to GTA V’s in size. The game’s plot revolves around tensions between two rival gangs, the Crisps and the Bloods.

In San Andreas, Rockstar chose to highlight the story more than the typical criminal activities, leading to more prominent cutscenes that advance the plot. Fun things to do in San Andreas included swimming, climbing walls, shopping, flying planes, and working out at a gym.

Paranormal elements such as visits from the spirits of the deceased and alien sightings were introduced in San Andreas, adding to the game’s already entertaining components.

GTA Advance (Release Date: 2004)

Over 24 million copies of the Game Boy Advance spinoff Grand Theft Auto: Advanced have been sold.

After 7 years (since 1997, when the series originally debuted) GTA Advance saw the series return to its roots. The game’s new protagonist, Liberty City setting, and top-down view made up for the lack of 3D. When compared to the preceding titles, “Advance” seems simplistic. Despite the dreary moniker, it featured fresh content like search-and-rescue, street racing, cab, and firefighting missions.

GTA: Liberty City Stories (Release Date: 2005)

There have been 11 million copies of the spinoff The Liberty City Stories sold across PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, and mobile devices.

Many players consider Liberty City Stories an incremental step forward from Grand Theft Auto III. This is the first game in the series to feature a non-playable character as the main character. Despite being a minor upgrade to GTA III, Liverpool City Stores added a number of new features, including more indoor environments, bikes, and refined camera controls.

GTA Trilogy (Release Date: 2005)

The Grand Theft Auto Trilogy is a collection of games playable on the Xbox, PS2, and PC. The three most well-known Grand Theft Auto games are included in this set: San Andreas, Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto III.

GTA: Vice City Stories (Release Date: 2006)

Six million copies of The Vice City Stories have been sold across the PSP, PS2, and PS3.

The Vice City Stories is essentially a carbon copy of the Liberty City Stories with new content added. Set in 1984, it introduces a new protagonist and marks the series’ final outing with the RenderWare engine, which had powered all previous 3D Grand Theft Auto titles. In addition, you’ll be able to buy a store and improve it in Vice City Stories for the first time ever thanks to the game’s innovative building mechanics.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories - Xfire

GTA IV (Release Date: 2008)

Included in the main series, Grand Theft Auto IV debuted on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, has sold over 25 million copies, and has received new DLC in the form of The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony.

The protagonist of GTA IV, Niko Bellic (Eastern European War Veteran), is a fan favorite and brought players back to Liberty City. Rockstar’s new Advanced Game Engine (RAGE) powers Grand Theft Auto IV for the first time. This Grand Theft Auto game, like its predecessors, places an emphasis on storytelling; however, it is the first GTA game to include decisions that can affect the overall outcome of the game, resulting in three distinct endings.

GTA IV has vastly improved gameplay. Driving, third-person shooting, police AI, improved enemy AI, and the number of weapons at your disposal have all seen significant upgrades.

GTA: Episodes from Liberty City (Release Date: 2009)

In its first week of release, the Episodes from Liberty City bundle for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 sold 3 million copies.

Because they can be played independently of Grand Theft Auto IV, the expansion packs included here—The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony—are sold here in their own bundle. In the former, the protagonist is a member of a motorcycle gang, while in the latter, the protagonist is a member of a mafia gang, and the action takes place primarily at night.

GTA: Chinatown Wars (Released Date: 2009)

Two million copies of this offshoot of the main series have been sold on the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable.

It’s the second game in the Grand Theft Auto series that is only available on portable devices. Chinatown Wars broke new ground by breaking several GTA tropes for the first time. To begin, it has a top-down perspective that can be freely rotated to provide unique camera angles. Cell-shaded graphics give it a comic book feel, setting it apart from the rest of the series.

Chinatown Wars is a handheld game, but it still features a ton of content, including over 100 missions and many of the staple activities from Grand Theft Auto games. The last Grand Theft Auto game to include a helicopter was 2003’s GTA III, so that’s something to think about.

GTA V (Release Date: 2013)

The Grand Theft Auto V PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S versions have collectively sold over 140 million copies worldwide.

When compared to other games in the series, Grand Theft Auto V’s sales numbers put it among the top sellers of all time. Even though it came out nearly a decade ago, Grand Theft Auto V is still widely played and regarded as a landmark title in the gaming industry. At an estimated 265 million dollars, Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most costly video games ever developed.

So, how is the game itself? It’s the first Grand Theft Auto game to have three main characters and puts more emphasis on setting and story than its predecessors. The fact that you can switch between the game’s three main characters at any time without disrupting their individual stories is one of GTA V’s many impressive features. Ultimately, it’s a tale about the bonds of friendship and loyalty.

GTA V utilizes a new graphical engine that greatly enhances the driving systems, world interaction, and third-person shooting experience.

GTA Online (Release Date: 2013)

There are over 220,000 peak concurrent players on Steam for GTA Online, an online spinoff of Grand Theft Auto V that is playable on PC, PlayStation 3, 4, 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Since its release in 2013, new content has been regularly added to the game as part of a “live-service” model. While GTA Online does not feature a linear storyline, it does offer the option to play with a friend. You can complete missions in the game as well as engage in various criminal activities, such as carjackings, bank heists, illegal Street racing, etc.

Your character’s rank and statistics will increase as you earn more Reputation Points as you play. GTA Online is a popular game that has become increasingly popular in recent years.

GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (Release Date: 2021)

There have been 10 million copies of The Trilogy sold across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

The Grand Theft Auto III, San Andreas, and Vice City remasters are included in this bundle, as they have been in all others. This collection enhances the visuals, controls, and lighting of the aforementioned games, in addition to porting them to a modern console. Despite their best efforts, it suffered from technical difficulties and had shoddy visuals. Since then, Rockstar has patched The Trilogy in an attempt to address its problems.

Is GTA 6 being worked on?

A new Grand Theft Auto game is in development, as stated by Rockstar Games.
An unexpected announcement on February 4, 2022, served as our first official word from the developers. Rockstar has confirmed that “active development” is progressing well on the next Grand Theft Auto game.

It is unclear, however, how far along in the process the project currently is. There has been no announcement of a release date or tease of when the first trailer might be shown.

Moreover, reports from within the development team of alleged problems may indicate that the project is far from being finished. Fans are in an uproar, demanding information of any kind, but there is no reason to expect a quick release of GTA 6, which is a certainty.

Is there a GTA 6 release date?

The release date for Grand Theft Auto 6 has not been announced as of yet, and if Take-Two’s predictions hold true, it may be some time before it does.

Despite a leak suggesting a 2023 release, we still know very little about the next Grand Theft Auto game. There are always new rumors claiming to know the release date, but you should take them with a grain of salt.
Production on GTA 6 is reportedly “well underway,” but there is still no official release date.
Fans may have to wait until after 2022 for the release of GTA 6, says industry analyst Michael Patcher. I predict a release date beyond 2022. Keep in mind that the sequel to 2010’s Red Dead Redemption isn’t coming out until 2020.

The game is expected to come out in 2024 or 2025, according to reliable leaker and insider Tom Henderson. Expectations for playing this game within the next few years should be moderated, as stated by the author: I wouldn’t expect to see this until 2024 or 2025 at the earliest.

Rockstar’s parent company, Take Two, said in 2020 that they anticipate a significant rise in advertising spending the following year, in 2024. Approximately $90,000,000 is how much money is involved.

A Take Two representative told gamesindustry.biz that the marketing increase is unrelated to the company’s internal studios like Rockstar, even though the sum is consistent with what is needed for an AAA release.

Jason Schreier of Bloomberg has corroborated Henderson’s claims, saying he, too, has been told a similar release window by his sources: I can’t believe everyone took me at my word that GTA VI wouldn’t be released until 2023! I can confirm that everything Tom Henderson has said about the game is accurate.
Daily, anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6 increases.
On August 3, alongside the most recent earnings report, Take-Two, Rockstar’s parent company, revealed its updated annual roadmaps. There are currently 19 “core releases” planned, though Grand Theft Auto 6 wasn’t specifically named.

Nothing beyond the game’s existence in development has been confirmed for GTA 6, but the wait may soon be over. At least, that’s what respected industry insider Chris Klippel says: a new Rockstar announcement is on the verge of being made.

What this could possibly be referring to is not clear. However, various LinkedIn posts that have since been edited suggest that longtime Rockstar employees are beginning to wrap up their work on the project, suggesting that a proper GTA 6 reveal could be coming sooner rather than later.

GTA 6 platforms

The release date of Grand Theft Auto 6 has been pushed back multiple times, making it unlikely that the game will be compatible with the PS4 and Xbox One. It makes sense for Rockstar to highlight the raw power of the various platforms, as the graphical gap between consoles and PC is at its narrowest ever.

Leaks suggest that Grand Theft Auto 6 will only be available on current-gen systems. It’s possible Rockstar Games won’t release anything else for this generation of consoles.

Crossplay in GTA 6: PS5, Xbox Series X & PC

There is no cross-play functionality in any Rockstar game right now. However, it’s possible that GTA 6 will be the first of their games to include this function.

This has the potential to unite gamers using different devices. There may be no difference between the console and PC versions of GTA 6 when it comes to player interaction.

GTA 6 features

There are undoubtedly some major mechanics that many would like to see either return from previous Rockstar titles or be introduced as brand new features in GTA 6, but none of these have been revealed as of yet.

  • Extremely numerous firearms
  • Minor Operations
  • Several Different Places
  • A huge map
  • Starring Women
  • Numerous possible directions
  • The present day
  • Modifying Automobiles

The next version of GTA Online may include new modes in addition to the previously announced gameplay improvements. An insider has revealed that 100 players will be pitted against each other in a “battle royale-type mode” set during a deadly hurricane.

GTA 6 setting and map size

The community is buzzing with speculation, even looking to Grand Theft Auto 5 for hints, despite the fact that no confirmed map has been released regarding the locations players will be visiting in the next installment. Most recent games have been set in North America, but many players would welcome a return to either Vice City or San Andreas.

The Project Americas leak, which resurfaced in 2018, revealed information about a massive world with a lot of cool features. Now, however, leaker Tom Henderson (aka LongSensation on YouTube) has stated that many of these leaks are fake, suggesting that “80% of the “Project Americas” leaks are:” with an image depicting smoke and a mirror.

  • Read more about how GTA 6 players love TikToker’s “Pirate Radio.”

However, previous leaks suggested that the entire state of Florida, not just Vice City, would play a role. According to them, the map would be the size of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 put together, and it would be set in a futuristic version of Miami.

Michael Pachter, an analyst in the gaming industry, has recently made public statements suggesting that GTA 6 will span multiple continents. It’s a combination of Vice City, San Andreas, Liberty City, and Europe, as far as I can tell. He declared in March of 2022, “London, without a doubt.”

According to the most recent rumors, not only will the map be the largest Rockstar sandbox map to date, but it will also completely outshine all of their previous efforts. If there’s a lot to see and do, you could spend countless hours immersed in it.

Rio de Janeiro – May 2021

Some hints have also been dropped about Rio de Janeiro, with some Redditors noting similarities between the map layout and the real Rio.

Boastful_Clown claimed to have “evidence” in the form of “the bottom city is Rio de Janeiro in the leaked maps.” However, many Redditors confirmed the claim, and these map claims continue to excite Grand Theft Auto fans everywhere.

Vice City map leaks – May 2021

The Vice City setting has been the source of numerous recent leaks. Compared to the 2018 leak, which was also posted on Imgur, this one reveals a lot more information.

The need for a visual effects artist was also revealed in a recent posting on the Rockstar Games career page. “help to immerse the player in a believable world,” as the job description puts it, “by using ambient effects for things like insects around the player and rain dripping off buildings up to large-scale destruction events like skyscrapers crashing to the ground.”

MrBossFTW, a popular GTA YouTuber, made the connection between the ad and a new map set in Florida; could this be Vice City?

Here, the player can make out a lot more detail, such as a road network. A Reddit user named himikotogaas summed up the general sentiment of fans everywhere: “The more I see this, and the more people add to it, the more I hope it is legit.”

Fans have doubled down on their Vice City speculation all through 2021, thanks in part to leaked screenshots and even radio stations. On July 8, a full-length video of the purported GTA 6 map surfaced online.

South America and Asia

Some have even theorized that it will take place in Asia or South America. Some have even claimed that a leak suggesting the game would be set in the 1970s or 1990s is false.

Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser has said it’s possible to set Grand Theft Auto in another country or time period: “Right now,” the author writes, “it feels like GTA’s DNA is contemporary-ish, American-ish, English-speaking-ish, because that’s what it has been.”

Many people would love to see the legendary Vice City featured again, but will this ever happen?

This statement doesn’t tell us much about the setting or time period, but it does show that Rockstar is willing to experiment with new ideas for Grand Theft Auto games.

GTA 6 Modern Setting hints – April 2021

The next Grand Theft Auto game may return to a more familiar setting, according to a recent leak. Rockstar India was seeking a Mixed Media Animator, and the posting only fanned the flames with its description of the position’s duties.

GTA 6 story, plot, and characters

While the story of GTA 6 is said to be complete, there is much conjecture about the game’s number of playable characters. Like Grand Theft Auto V, will there be a single protagonist, or will there be a few?

GTA 6 actors/cast rumors

CJ is one of the most recognizable protagonists in the series, and there were rumors that he would be making a comeback.

Voice actor Chris Bellard, however, posted a screenshot of an old article that hinted at his return to the series with the caption “To kill the rumors!” Despite popular belief, I have zero connection to Grand Theft Auto VI. The end. F**k @Rockstargames. I could care less if y’all heard that another MF will have to provide the voice for CJ.

Main characters

A member of the acting community has provided the first solid clue about a GTA 6 character. On his resume, actor Jorge Consejo lists a CGI role he played for GTA VI and Rockstar Games as “The Mexican.”

The Mexican, a character from Grand Theft Auto 6, is listed on Consejo’s resume.

Anonymous leakers have stated that the game will focus on four characters, and have even named three of them (though Consejo’s character isn’t mentioned).

Female leads in GTA 6?

According to the aforementioned leaker Tom Henderson, and other sources, Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature a female protagonist. Outside of online multiplayer, this has not appeared in any of Rockstar’s recent games like Bully, Red Dead, or GTA.
Could Grand Theft Auto 6’s main protagonist be a woman?

Bitcoin feature currency leaks – June 2021

In addition to the return of the stock market, another feature leak suggests that cryptocurrency will make an appearance in Grand Theft Auto 6. Tom Henderson claims that this function will primarily come from the game’s higher-up characters, who will use it primarily when transferring large sums of money to the player character rapidly.

GTA 6 leaks and teasers

Character Costume & Wardrobe Stylists is just the beginning of the GTA 6 leaks that have emerged, with fans picking up on a number of job listings from Rockstar North.
There have been numerous leaks and teasers for the game.

Live event announcement

In June of 2021, Rockstar advertised a position on their website for a “Live Events Co-ordinator.” Based on this scrap of data, some GTA 6 fans have concluded that an old leak about a live event announcement for GTA 6 is legit.

The previous leak suggested that GTA 6 would be unveiled to fans through a series of live events and various updates to the GTA Online platform.

These leaks should be taken with the usual grain of salt, but it’s possible that they’re related to one another.

GTA 6 System Requirements PC, Laptop [Upgrade Now in 2023]

Upcoming trailers

In February 2021, Rockstar’s New York studio advertised for a “Cinematic Gameplay Capture Artist,” a position tasked with filming gameplay for use in online and television advertisements. Our video editing and trailer teams collaborate with the Gameplay Capture team to create high-quality videos based entirely on gameplay footage.

An additional job posting from 2020 sought a video editor who could create engaging material in a “60-second format” (which sounds a lot like a trailer) by January 2021.

It’s been a year since this job posting, but we’ve heard that the GTA 6 trailer won’t be out until the fall of 2022. Reporters tried to set realistic expectations, telling fans that the first trailer would be no more than a minute long.

According to the aforementioned rumors, hip-hop artist Alex Gonzalez AKA El Nitro 56 is contributing to GTA 6’s soundtrack. In a Tweet that has since been deleted, he teased the arrival of a trailer. Having it removed has piqued the interest of many fans, who now hold out hope that it may finally be overdue.

Teasers

There have been other possible hints, such as the Christmas present the developer gave to influential people. Social media posts about the present’s contents revealed a Rockstar logo patch in the colors of the Colombian flag, which had never been seen before.

Players think the Vetir announcement font suggests Grand Theft Auto 6.

Release date clues

Rockstar’s use of a font that makes the V and E look like the roman numeral VI for six in a Newswire post featuring an image of the Vetir vehicle in February 2021 has sparked widespread speculation about a possible tongue-in-cheek nod from the developer.

Although this has not been confirmed and is most likely just fun speculation, it nonetheless demonstrates how eager fans are to learn anything at all about the new GTA.

Vice City Online, Rockstar Cartel, and GTA 6 domain names

Take-Two Interactive recently renewed two unique domain names, and a Reddit user noticed. Rockstar Games’ publishing arm has extended its ownership of gtavicecityonline, gtavi, and rockstarcartel.

Take these domains with a grain of salt, as companies are known to renew them regularly even if they have no plans to use them.

Conclusion

Now you know the answer. Everything we know so far about when Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released. As more information (leaks, rumors, news, etc.) becomes available, it will be added to this post.