Take-Two and Rockstar Games are to officially announce the next instalment in its Grand Theft Auto series this week, according to a report from Bloomberg citing sources close to the game’s development. Rockstar’s founder Sam Houser has since confirmed that a trailer for the game will debut in December, coinciding with developer Rockstar’s 25th anniversary.
Much is already known about Grand Theft Auto Six due to an unprecedented leak in 2022, when hours’ worth of in-progress game footage was stolen from Rockstar’s servers, resulting in the conviction of two British teenagers. The developer had previously confirmed in February 2022 that work on the game was “well underway”. The game is set in Vice City, a fictional Miami last seen in 2006’s GTA: Vice City Stories, and will feature the series’ first female protagonist.
Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto Five just over 10 years ago, followed shortly afterwards by the online multiplayer game GTA Online, set in the same virtual world of San Andreas and its surroundings. Together, they have made over $7.7bn (£6.3bn) for parent company Take-Two, as reported in its earnings. GTA 5 is the second bestselling game of all time, behind Minecraft.
Both players and Take-Two’s shareholders have been waiting a long time for the next instalment in the Grand Theft Auto series, and since the hack there has been increasing pressure for Rockstar to officially reveal the game. In its May earnings results (via IGN), Take-Two projected a massive $8bn (£6.5bn) windfall in 2024, leading many to speculate that Grand Theft Auto six will be released by the end of next year.
Rockstar’s founder, Sam Houser, responded with the following statement: “Next month marks the 25th anniversary of Rockstar Games … In 1998, Rockstar Games was founded on the idea that video games could come to be as essential to culture as any other form of entertainment, and we hope that we have created games you love in our efforts to be part of that evolution.
“We are very excited to let you know that in early December, we will release the first trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto. We look forward to many more years of sharing these experiences with all of you.”
• This article was amended on 8 November 2023, after publication, to add a statement from Sam Houser; and to clarify that GTA 5’s game world, San Andreas, is not a city but a larger area.
