Grand Theft Auto VI is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. It is due to be the eighth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following…
Grand Theft Auto VI is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. It is due to be the eighth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2013's Grand Theft Auto V, and the sixteenth instalment overall.
Grand Theft Auto VI is an upcoming action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. It is due to be the eighth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following 2013's Grand Theft Auto V, and the sixteenth instalment overall. Set within the fictional US state of Leonida, based on Florida, the story follows the criminal duo of Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. Players will be able to freely roam Leonida's open world, which features the Miami-inspired Vice City.
Early development began after Red Dead Redemption 2's release in 2018, following years of preliminary work, and principal production began in 2020. Rockstar's worldwide development teams more than doubled since Red Dead Redemption 2. Miami and its surrounding areas were extensively researched for the game's world, which parodies 2020s American culture. The protagonists' dynamic is inspired by Bonnie and Clyde, and the non-player characters were written to ensure players experience different areas of Vice City.
Following years of speculation and anticipation, Rockstar confirmed in February 2022 that the game was in development. That September, footage from unfinished versions was leaked in what journalists described as one of the biggest leaks in the history of the video game industry. Grand Theft Auto VI was formally revealed in December 2023. Following two delays and further leaks, it is scheduled to be released on 19 November 2026 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Gameplay
Grand Theft Auto VI is a single-player, action-adventure game set within an open world that can be played from a third-person view as Jason Duval or Lucia Caminos. Players can choose to fight non-player characters (NPCs), steal vehicles, rob establishments or get into high-speed chases with police officers. In free roam, players have several options for activities, such as skydiving, wrestling, basketball, exercising, and scuba diving.
Throughout the game, players will be able to gain or lose weight as both Jason and Lucia, and if the player stays awake as either character for days on end, it will become visible on their faces. The game will have a Criminal Profile rating system that tracks each playable character's reputation based on their actions, similar to the honour system previously used in Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar has stated this system is not meant to portray Lucia and Jason as do-gooders, but will track whether each character keeps their crimes professional or commits unnecessary violence with in-game consequences that reflect their reputation.
In free roam, as Jason or Lucia, players can choose to split the two up to go and do their own activities or stay, hang out and do activities together. Their relationship will depend on the player's actions and, according to Rockstar, will be optional. Grand Theft Auto VI will feature a fully fleshed-out social media app called Snapmatic, returning from Grand Theft Auto V. The app is meant to parody 2020s social media trends and apps such as TikTok and Instagram. Players will have the option to change the appearance of Jason and Lucia, such as changing the hair, clothes and accessories.
Setting and characters
Grand Theft Auto VI is set within the fictional US state of Leonida, based on Florida; its map is reported to be three times larger than the playable area of Red Dead Redemption 2. The map includes Vice City, Grassrivers, and the Leonida Keys (inspired by Miami, the Everglades, and the Florida Keys, respectively). Additional locations include Ambrosia, Mount Kalaga National Park, and Port Gellhorn. The game world parodies 2020s American culture, with satirical depictions of social media and influencer culture, law enforcement tactics and technology like police body cameras, and references to Internet memes such as Florida Man.
The story follows a criminal couple: Jason Duval, who worked for local drug runners in the Leonida Keys after serving in the Army; and Lucia Caminos, the series' first non-optional female protagonist, who was imprisoned at Leonida Penitentiary after fighting for her family from Liberty City. Following a failed bank heist, the duo encounters a state-wide conspiracy and are forced to protect each other.
Other characters include: Cal Hampton, Jason's paranoid friend; Boobie Ike, who runs a business empire in Vice City; Dre'Quan Priest, owner of the record label Only Raw Records with Boobie; Bae-Luxe and Roxy, a musical duo signed to Only Raw under the name Real Dimez; Raul Bautista, a seasoned bank robber; and Brian Heder (Stephen Root), a long-time drug runner in the Keys and Jason's landlord.
Development
Rockstar Games began preliminary work on Grand Theft Auto VI in 2014 after Grand Theft Auto V's release, with early development starting in late 2018 following Red Dead Redemption 2. Principal production began in 2020, code-named Project Americas. Rockstar's worldwide development teams more than doubled since Red Dead Redemption 2's release. They avoided their standard crunch practices and making jokes about marginalised groups in the way prior games did. The game is expected to use the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine. It is the first main Grand Theft Auto game since the 1997 original (and the first overall since 2004's Advance) not to be written by Dan Houser, who left Rockstar in 2020.
Resources were reallocated from Red Dead Online and planned remasters in 2022 to prioritise development. Rumours and analysts suggested the budget surpassed US$1–2 billion, which would make it the most expensive game ever developed, though the figure remains unverified. Rockstar requested employees cease remote work and return to offices from April 2024 "for productivity and security" as the release date neared. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) criticised Rockstar for contradicting promises to maintain flexible working conditions; employees were concerned that effects to health and morale could prompt resignations and crunch, especially as managers still maintained flexibility.