Anticipation is reaching fever pitch for the release of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI). Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two Interactive, is projecting the game will smash records in 2025.
Expected to generate $3 billion (R56.7 billion) in revenue within its first year – including $1 billion (R18.9 billion) from pre-orders alone – GTA VI is shaping up to be one significant launch.
Take-Two’s chief executive Strauss Zelnick tells the Financial Times he never claims a victory before it occurs, but in his opinion, “Rockstar Games will once again deliver something absolutely phenomenal.”
Why the buzz around GTA VI?
For starters, fans of the franchise have been waiting for more than ten years.
The hype surrounding the game was evident when the first trailer was released in December 2023 and amassed more than 225 million views in less than a single week.
If the trailer is anything to go by, players can look forward to an immersive and richly-detailed game world.
GTA VI will return to the fictional Vice City (picture: Miami), with a sprawling map and dynamic gameplay.
And Rockstar also has a penchant for hyper-realistic games.
The sheer scale of the game has been a talking point, with developers hinting at unprecedented interactivity, realistic environments, and a story that could redefine open-world gaming.
Also, A WOMAN! *sarcastic gasp*
The game will reportedly feature two main protagonists, including a character named Lucia. (Oh look, a woman. Finally)
So, no, it’s not a “progressive move” as some are saying. Don’t @ me, I said what I said.
When we were first introduced to Lucia, she was wearing a prison uniform at what appeared to be a parole interview. The clip ended with Lucia and a partner holding up a store.
Big expectations, slow market
Despite challenges in the gaming industry, including a general slowdown, Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to buck the trend.
Heck, even the median games played by gamers in 2023 was … drum roll … only four.
That said, Take-Two is confident in the game’s potential, with Zelnick saying the longevity of this franchise and its broad appeal make it a unique asset in Rockstar’s portfolio.
A monumental Grand Theft Auto launch
Grand Theft Auto VI is slated for release in 2025, though the exact date remains under wraps.
Retailers are already bracing for a surge in demand, with pre-orders expected to set new benchmarks for the industry.
With such a loyal fanbase, the game is on track to smash records once again.
With an estimated development cost of $2 billion, GTA VI could be the most expensive game ever produced.
GTA 5 was released nearly a whole decade ago (17 September 2013), and has sold 110 million copies since its initial release.
