Grand Theft Auto 6’s supposed leaks and rumors may have revealed some details, including the release date, setting, and storyline for the massively anticipated open-world game from Rockstar Games. But fans should definitely treat these claims with a massive grain of salt, as the game is yet to be revealed in a public capacity.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Potential Release Date
Although Rockstar Games has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 is currently in development, However, publisher Take-Two Interactive has implied that “the company’s 2025 fiscal year is going to be massive”, a forecast pointing towards the potential release of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Along with initial claims from reliable sources that before the year ends, Rockstar Games and Take-Two will finally unveil what the gaming world is eagerly waiting for.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Platforms
Grand Theft Auto 6 is most likely to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC platforms. Switch, PS4 and Xbox One platforms seem unlikely, but there have been no official reports for these platforms at the moment.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Announcement
Rockstar Games officially confirmed in a statement back in February 2022 that Grand Theft Auto 6 is in development:
“On behalf of our entire team, we thank you all for your support and cannot wait to step into the future with you!”
Grand Theft Auto 6 Characters and Story Leaks
The Grand Theft Auto franchise doesn’t particularly follow a set of characters, let alone the same place. But reports suggest that GTA 6 will be following on 2 protagonists this time – possibly following in GTA 5’s “Character Switching” mechanic – one being reported to be a female of Latina descent.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s setting will reportedly be back in Vice City – Rockstar’s version of Miami – with rumors suggesting that we would possibly get a storyline similar to that of Netflix’s Narcos, further suggesting that it may involve cartels, given that Miami as an influence and its history with drug cartels.
Adding in to this rumor, comes a leak that GTA 6 is codenamed “Project Americas”, further suggesting the cartel-narco storyline. Here are some of the information listed down for clarity:
- The next GTA title has been in development since 2012, but production didn’t begin properly until 2015, but even then the team was focusing more on Red Dead Redemption 2.
- It’s another Rockstar Worldwide Production.
- Codename is PROJECT AMERICAS.
- Set in both Vice City and a new fictional location based on Rio de Janeiro.
- Some linear missions take place in Liberty City, but it isn’t an open world (think Ludendorff in GTA 5).
- Game will balance realism and arcade and it won’t be as realistic as Red Dead Redemption 2.
- One playable protagonist: male, not female, despite supposed leaks.
- Set in 1970s-1980s.
- You play as an up and coming drug lord-wannabe named “Ricardo”. Another key character called “Kacey” is a part of the narrative. You start off as a grunt doing runs as a cocaine smuggler from Vice City to the new large South American area before making connections with big time drug lords and making your way up. Multiple cities.
- There will also be a giant prison which will play a part in the game.
- Will feature a ‘chapter’ system similar to a Tarantino flick or Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Weather is a heavy focus (hurricanes, floods, etc).
- Buildings change over the eras, vehicles too. So older, rare classic cars get more expensive as time progresses etc. Full economy.
- Heavily inspired by Netflix’s Narcos.
- They want to have an incredible 70s/80s soundtrack.
- A younger Martin Madrazo will make an appearance as will his father who is a big drug lord at the time. You do some missions for the Madrazo family involving hits on other gangs.
- Drug empire building is a mechanic similar to Vice City Stories but bigger. Think of GTA Online system and dial it up to 10.
- You can only have weapons on your person. No arsenal in your back pocket, like Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Your personal vehicle will be like your horse saddle in Red Dead Redemption 2. All your equipment is stored in the trunk. You also store your body armour in the car. If you wear it, it appears, no longer just an invisible thing.
- There will be tons of subtitle reading. Think Max Payne 3 amounts, very immersive, like watching an episode of Narcos. Whenever you’re in South America, don’t expect to hear much English. Vice City however is a mix of everything, but mostly English.
- Last bit of narrative info, it will discuss topics such as HIV and the immigration crisis of the time. A fictional version of Fidel Castro etc.
- Next-gen only, not PS4 or Xbox One [aka PS5 and Xbox Series X]
- GTA 6 is now their primary focus, alongside another title (which might be Bully 2).
- Game is still in Pre-Alpha so names, locations, details could and probably will change.
- No ETA on a release date.
Also, in a tweet from @GTAVInewz, it was also claimed that GTA 6 will be featuring “cities that are evolving”, which implies that Rockstar Games will reportedly be updating the game, possibly through DLCs adding in new cities and regions throughout its lifecycle.
Massive GTA 6 Leak
It was reported that a hacker named “teapotuberhacker” posted numerous files on the GTA Forums site, including videos and source codes with Rockstar Games confirming this and that footage relating to GTA 6 was, in fact real. This was the single most significant PR nightmare in the world of gaming to date.
Afterwards, journalist Jason Schreier confirmed with sources from the studio that the leaks were indeed real, with Rockstar Games saying “it was a nightmare:”
Grand Theft Auto 6 Gameplay Footage Leaks
GTA 6 Diner Robbery Footage
Some gameplay footage leaks were reported as well, including this footage of the GTA 6 protagonists, Lucia and Jason, that shows them to be holding up a diner. The footage shows some new mechanics, such as tying up hostages and threatening them into staying still.
GTA 6 Police Chase Footage
This footage shows female protagonist Lucia, in what is supposed to be in the back of a pickup truck, being chased by police officers. This is one of the leaks that left some fans stunned, with some saying that the police AI has been overhauled, making them “more smarter, more responsive, and more of a threat” to the player.
Nightclub Footage
There is also the nightclub footage, where it shows one of the protagonists, Lucia, roaming around a nightclub and listening in on some conversations. Giving us a glimpse at one of the possible activities and places in GTA 6.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Facial Recognition Rumors
Rumors say that the GTA 6 Facial Recognition system will scan players’ faces to see if they are old enough to play the game. However, the story started after a spokesperson’s statement to media outlets said that “uses images to determine the subject’s age in order to ensure compliance with COPPA privacy requirements.”
These speculations came into the public’s eye after seeing posts from Twitter, Reddit and some Youtube discussions.
This revolves around the ESRB’s proposed Privacy-Protective Facial Age Estimation system, who recently filed a request with the FTC for approval of a “verifiable parental consent mechanism”, called the Privacy-Protective Facial Age Estimation, which enables people to use selfies to prove that they are really adults who can legally provide parental consent to their kids. But the ESRB said that “it is not actually facial recognition at all, and is “highly privacy protective.”
One thing to keep in mind is that the ESRB only rates the U.S., Canada and Mexico; while other countries have their own respective agencies for that. Which means that the ESRB’s technology would have no effect on most parts of the world.
Hence, one shouldn’t expect their kids to be suddenly unable to play GTA 6 once it’s released, even if the news were true, which it isn’t, as per ESRB.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Price
Among one of the rumors running around is that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be one, if not “the most expensive entertainment product of all time”.
According to a tweet being shared on @GTAVINewz Twitter:
It is speculated that the game “may cost equal to its development costs, with a price tag costing to a staggering $150 given the size and scope of the game”. But then again, let us all take this with a grain of salt, as these costs also come from the same company that charged $40 for a port of Red Dead Redemption.
This news leaves fans divided, with some willing to buy the game if it literally would be costing $150, while others have said that “it would be lethal for their wallets” and hope that it would cost less, with Rockstar and Take-Two hopefully be willing to be more considerate for that price tag.
Other Grand Theft Auto 6 Rumors
Joe Rogan Podcast in GTA 6
There are also teasers for Grand Theft Auto 6 that would incorporate some “real-world elements”, including the Joe Rogan Podcast Experience that would be riding among the airwaves of Grand Theft Auto 6.
While hard evidence of this is yet to be seen, if true, players will most likely be listening in to a Rogan-themed radio station with parts of his podcast being heard.
The Grand Theft Auto franchise isn’t like without its few celebrity guestings, such as Dr. Dre making an appearance in GTA Online expansion missions, Frank Ocean and his own Blonded radio station in GTA 5 among others.
Possible Grand Theft Auto 6 Screenshots
GTA Online players have been speculating as to whether the new shirts added in GTA Online are actual screenshots for the upcoming game.
In the GTA Forums, a player said that “doesn’t look like anywhere in LS” and “the clouds don’t line up with GTA 5.”
With another adding in “I noticed that day one of the DLC and I’m still not sure about it. I swear if they’ve just been casually hiding GTA VI screenshots in game assets.”
With only a few months away before 2022 ends, hopefully Rockstar Games releases the actual teaser trailer we have been waiting for.