Summary
All eyes had been on Rockstar even before the announcement ofGrand Theft Auto 6and the launch of its trailer, but the developer’s silence on revealing more of the game will end up doing more harm than good. It’s been over 10 years since the release ofGrand Theft Auto 5, not including the various expanded and enhanced versions brought out on current-generation platforms since then. As a result, however, there has been a continuous build-up of fan speculation, expecting a technological jump the likes of which the gaming medium has never seen.
This is understandable when you’re looking through the perspective of the casual gamer who may only pick up a controller to play titles likeGTA VorGTA Onlineon the regular. As a consequence, players expecting the most realistic graphics ever for a video game will be disappointed unless Rockstar gets ahead of the issue and humbles expectations beforeGrand Theft Auto 6’sfull-price releasein 2025. If this doesn’t happen, the goodwill of the franchise’s devoted fan base will quickly evaporate and hurtGTA 6in the long term.
Will the long wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 be worth it?
After finally getting the first trailer for the game in December 2023, a recent leak seemingly indicated thatGrand Theft Auto VIwill finally be releasing in October 2025, lining up with Rockstar’s initial reporting that they would release the game in late 2025. While gamers wait to see if this news proves to be true, the question is also whether the wait for its arrival will ultimately be worth it, given it’ll be 12 years sinceGrand Theft Auto Vreleased when the sequel arrives. Though this time gap gives me some reservations, particularly as it seemed Rockstar were more focused on capitalizing onOnline’s success, the shift to a female protagonist and promise of a bigger map gives me some hope.
Why Rockstar’s Silence Will Hurt Grand Theft Auto 6
Increased Fan Speculation Fuels The Hype Train
Rockstar’s silence on GTA 6 will hurt the game becauseonlookers only have its first trailerand early details to go on what to expect, which leaves a lot of room for people to run wild with theories, speculation, and false information. This creates a scenario where the wildest theories about the scope and capabilities of the game may actually outshine the final product. That said, an upgraded RAGE Engine — Rockstar’s long-running game engine that’s been used in a variety of games, includingRed Dead Redemption 2— is said to be used forGrand Theft Auto 6’sdevelopment.
According to leaks, the RAGE engine can perform feats like simulating water physics in real-time, providing more realistic time management, and utilizing innovations in the artificial intelligence of NPCs. However, Rockstar has yet to confirm the official upgrade or what the community calls RAGE 9.
Since theGTA 6trailer is apparently in-engine, the look of the game, supposedly via RAGE so far, has even impressed ex-Rockstar developer Mike York on hisYork Reacts YouTube channel. NPCs all seem to be performing individual animations as shown in snippets, like on the crowded Miami Beach, one ofGTA 6’sreal-life locations. Besides rumors and leaks of the engine’s capabilities revealed byRockstar Mag, Rockstar themselves have been completely silent on the matter as to whether all of this is the case & has led to further speculation like NPCs being capable of being ultra-responsive to player interactions.
Will Grand Theft Auto 6 Still Be Good?
As Long As Expectations Are Realistic
The years of work put intoGTA 6and Rockstar’s prowess of detailed, high-quality graphics and under-the-surface innovations still means it will bean impressive game with more realistic visuals than ever seenin the franchise. Until the developer actually reveals gameplay showing what life in Leonida will actually look like, the speculation will keep on coming — like adding even more theories aboutwhich characters could return inGTA 6. As a result, the hype levels of fans rising like a rollercoaster could come crashing down if it’s not what they were hoping for.
Being the first mainlineGrand Theft Autogame since 2013, being made for systems two generations ahead,6will still be a noticeable jump. It’s just that instead of jaw-droppingly massive, country-sized maps and NPCs that are almost human, said leap is more in the realm of more realistic skin detail and accurate physics when walking through Miami Beach. If the first trailer is accurate,GTA 6will be a game with some of the best graphics of the generation; fans only need to reign in expectations that it will redefine the industry altogether.
