The discharge of Grand Theft Auto VI, anticipated to be one of many best-selling video games of all time, is delayed as soon as once more.
The sequel to the 2013 blockbuster Grand Theft Auto (GTA) V was initially presupposed to be launched this autumn however was pushed again earlier this yr by builders Rockstar Video games.
Now, it has been delayed as soon as once more, pushed to November 2026.
Why is it being delayed once more?
Rockstar says the delay will give them additional time to “end the sport with the extent of polish you have got come to count on and deserve”.
That is not a shock to George Osborn, video games business commentator and writer of the Video games Business Memo.
“For one thing that’s as monumental, as large finances, as excessive manufacturing worth as this, and given Rockstar’s historical past as an organization of delaying stuff till it is completely prepared, it isn’t massively sudden,” he advised Sky Information.
The expectations round GTA VI are excessive.
Whereas different current releases appear to have determined “much less is extra”, Rockstar is probably going working with a finances of over £1bn and followers who’ve been ready over a decade for the brand new sport, based on Mr Osborn.
“In the event you take a look at the Indiana Jones that got here out final yr, it seems nice, it is actually enjoyable to play, but it surely truly solely lasts about 20 hours by way of sport time, not rather more than a status TV sequence,” he mentioned.
“However [GTA6] is perhaps one of many handful of gigantic video games that actually does should be that polished to satisfy the expectations of shoppers, but in addition the ridiculously excessive manufacturing requirements they’ve inside Rockstar itself.”
Protesters outdoors Rockstar’s Edinburgh workplace. Pic: PA
Might inside issues at Rockstar have something to do with the delay?
Rockstar already hit the headlines as soon as this week after the studio was accused of union-busting when round 30 members of employees had been fired.
The union representing the employees, the Impartial Employees’ Union of Nice Britain (IWGB), mentioned the employees who had been fired had been all participating in commerce union exercise.
A Rockstar spokesperson advised Bloomberg, nevertheless, that the studio had taken motion in opposition to “a small quantity” of workers for “distributing and discussing confidential data in a public discussion board”.
Pic: PA
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s father or mother firm, has additionally launched a number of rounds of job cuts throughout its enterprise within the final two years.
Nevertheless, Mr Osborn does not assume these inside points could have impacted GTA VI’s launch.
“For Take-Two, Grand Theft Auto is basically the golden egg,” he mentioned.
“They’re ready for the goose to put, so they don’t seem to be too fussed [about] reductions of headcount at Rockstar.”
As for the employees who had been let go this week, he mentioned his “intestine feeling” is their departures are most likely not sufficient to “push the needle” by way of launch dates.
Sky Information has approached Take-Two Interactive for remark.
Might the delay be a great factor?
There’s loads of frustration concerning the ongoing delays however possibly good issues come to those that wait…
“Higher it come out good than rushed, however nonetheless disappointing… Hope they not less than give us trailer two as an apology,” mentioned one gamer on X.
Grand Theft Auto V on the market in 2022. File pic: Reuters
In addition to giving the studio extra time to good the sport, the delay may additionally imply the folks engaged on GTA VI are put below much less intense stress, based on Mr Osborn.
“The corporate got here in for lots of criticism within the run-up to earlier releases for mainly crunching too exhausting, getting the employees working too exhausting on the undertaking within the run-up to it, burning them out,” he mentioned.
In 2018, Rockstar confronted a backlash after employees described intense working situations within the run-up to large releases like Pink Lifeless Redemption and GTA V.
“Throughout the GTA IV period, it was like working with a gun to your head seven days per week,” posted one former worker on the time.
Since then, Rockstar has tried to reform its working tradition.
“The repercussion of that [reform] is basically it takes them even longer to make stuff as a result of the manufacturing requirements are so excessive,” mentioned Mr Osborn.
“For GTA VI, it must be good out of the gate. In any other case, it is going to be exhausting for them to get in the direction of that £1bn mark they should make the cash again.”
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What does this imply for different video games?
GTA VI is predicted to eat up sport gross sales as quickly as it’s launched. Its final iteration, GTA V, continues to be the second-best-selling sport of all time (Minecraft is the best-selling).
“It is going to simply dominate all the things and take the air out of the room,” mentioned Mr Osborn.
Players queued up in a single day to purchase Grand Theft Auto V in 2013. File pic: Reuters
As such, the video games business has been on tenterhooks ready to see if Rockstar would make their Might 2026 deadline, so they might keep away from their very own sport releases being overshadowed.
“The quick winners are most likely Resident Evil Requiem in February and First Mild, the James Bond sport that’s releasing in March,” mentioned Mr Osborn.
“Each of these video games 1762689538 have a a lot, a lot clearer run into the yr.”
As for video games like The Elder Scrolls VI or Fable, each doubtlessly being launched subsequent autumn, they might now be seeing if they’ll transfer their timelines to keep away from clashing with Grand Theft Auto VI.
“In the end, when the GTA VI launch date strikes, the complete business strikes round it.”
Mr Osborn additionally counts himself as one of many winners of the deadline transfer, as his ebook on the video games business can now be launched far prematurely of Grand Theft Auto VI.
“For somebody who’s making an attempt to persuade individuals who like video video games to spend £25 on one thing, it is actually useful that one thing that is going to price £70, £80 has simply been shoved out of the calendar.”
