One of the biggest events of the entertainment and gaming world in 2025 is hands down going to be the launch of the madly anticipated GTA VI / GTA 6 / Rockstar Games’ next blockbuster game. Believe me when I say it’s not an exaggeration that every gamer from around the world is waiting with bated breath for GTA 6 to release. And according to Rockstar Games, the developer of GTA titles over the years, and Take-Two (its parent company and publisher), GTA 6 is on track to release in 2025.
Also read: GTA 6 release date: Here’s when the most-awaited game can launch in 2025
This might be contrary to popular belief, but not everyone is elated by the impending release of GTA 6. Oh no siree! According to a revealing Bloomberg report, rival game publishers are nervously waiting for Rockstar Games and Take-Two to commit to a final release date of GTA 6 – aiming to steer their own games well clear of the GTA effect, to give them maximum chances for success, of course. Bloomberg claims that other game publishers won’t be committing to their game release dates in a hurry.
It makes sense, if you think about it. When every gamer and their grandmother will be buying GTA 6 in 2025, a game that’s expected to be very big in terms of its scope, playtime and incremental cost, a sizeable portion of the gaming community will likely stay away from buying any other game for at least a few months or more. Such is the allure and magic of the GTA franchise!
Grand Theft Auto: Brief history of a gaming phenomenon
The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, developed by Rockstar Games, has been a cornerstone of the gaming industry since its inception over 27 years ago dating back to 1997. Known for its expansive open-world environments and satirical take on American culture, the GTA game series has continually pushed the boundaries of interactive entertainment throughout its history.
The journey into gaming folklore began with the original Grand Theft Auto, which was released in November 1997 for MS-DOS and Windows. Recent and younger fans of later GTA games won’t even recognize the original, which was a top-down, 2D game that introduced players to a sandbox-style gaming experience across three fictional cities: Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City. Its success led to the expansion packs GTA: London 1969 and GTA: London 1961, both set in 1960s London.
In 1999, Grand Theft Auto 2 continued the top-down perspective, this time set in the futuristic “Anywhere City.” But it wasn’t until GTA III in 2001 where the series went through a transformative shift, embracing 3D graphics and a third-person perspective for the very first time in its franchise history. Set in a reimagined Liberty City, the game offered unprecedented freedom and a cinematic narrative, setting a whole new standard for open-world games at the time.
Subsequently, GTA: Vice City (2002) transported players to a 1980s-inspired city, introducing voice acting, musical soundtrack and an attractive and vibrant, neon-lit world that introduced millions of new fans to the franchise. In 2004, GTA: San Andreas expanded the scope of the GTA gaming universe with an even bigger sandbox environment comprising an entire state, complete with three cities and rural areas, along with character customisation and RPG elements.
With support for 1920×1080 graphics, GTA IV (2008) returned to Liberty City with a focus on realism and HD graphical detail previously unseen in GTA games, while also introducing an online multiplayer mode for the very first time. Finally, GTA V (2013) elevated the GTA gaming series further by featuring not just one but three playable characters and an expansive open world encompassing both urban and rural areas. Its online game mode, called GTA Online, became a massive success, contributing to the game’s enduring popularity for over a decade and counting. By the end of 2023, the GTA game series had shipped over 425 million units (with 200 million units comprising GTA V alone), making it one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time.
GTA 6: Leaks, trailers and speculation
Given the history and legacy of the GTA game franchise, it’s of course no surprise that anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) has been fueled by a steady stream of leaks, teasers, and speculations, each cranking up the mystery and intrigue surrounding Rockstar Games’ upcoming gaming title.
You have to keep in mind that there’s been no new GTA game released since GTA V, which was all the way back in 2013. With expectation rife, the gaming community was rocked by a massive leak of over 90 video clips in September 2022 showcasing early development footage of GTA 6, which later Rockstar Games acknowledged to be true. These clips offered the earliest glimpses into potential gameplay mechanics, characters, and the sandbox world of GTA 6, sparking widespread discussions and analyses among gaming fans all over the world.
Also read: New GTA 6 gameplay leaked: Smaller storyline, new characters, and more revealed
Nothing much happened after that for over a year when in December 2023, Rockstar Games released the first official trailer for GTA 6, which quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The trailer became the most watched non-music video on YouTube within its first 24 hours, and has since then amassed over 225 million views in total, underlining the immense anticipation for the game.
Then again after a year, in December 2024, Rockstar Games seemingly dropped a subtle hint about GTA 6 within the promotional material for the GTA Online DLC, Agents of Sabotage. The nod to GTA 6 was spotted by an eagle-eyed gamer, who noticed what looked like a Hidden Package from GTA: Vice City in the artwork of the online DLC, which many interpreted as an easter egg to the upcoming GTA 6 game’s setting. While Rockstar Games has remained tight-lipped about GTA 6’s setting and larger themes, subsequent leaks and reports suggest a return to Vice City as all but confirmed, which is the GTA universe’s’ fictional take on Miami.
Leaks have also hinted at a dual-protagonist system in GTA 6, with players getting to choose between playing either a male or female character. Borrowing a page from role-playing games, GTA 6 is believed to have a pretty extensive character personalisation and customisation option built-in, one that will allow gamers of GTA 6 to make the playable character as personal as they possibly can. Rumours of in-game social media integration have also circulated in the recent past, especially after the original trailer release of GTA 6. Of course, not too long of a wait remaining now before the game officially releases.
GTA 6 release date in 2025
Everyone from GTA fans to gaming industry analysts have speculated on a potential release window of the hotly anticipated game, with some reports indicating a fall 2025 launch of GTA 6. This release timeframe for GTA 6 originates from a senior executive of Rockstar Games’ parent company.
Following the record-breaking trailer launch of GTA 6, Rockstar Games cursorily suggested a release window of 2025. Later during a May 2024 earnings call, no less than the Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick commented on GTA 6’s release timeline in 2025, saying that he was feeling “highly confident that we’ll deliver [GTA 6] in fall of 2025.”
Make of that what you will. Whether GTA 6 launches around Diwali 2025 is anybody’s guess, but I think there’s a very good chance we’ll all be playing the game before Christmas 2025 for sure. Unless the game’s tragically delayed, which it has been by close to a decade, if you think about it. Let’s hope before the end of 2025, gamers around the world will be witnessing the cultural phenomenon that GTA 6 is destined to be!
Also read: GTA 6 launch timeline confirmed by parent company: Here’s when it will launch in 2025
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Jayesh Shinde
Executive Editor at Digit. Technology journalist since Jan 2008, with stints at Indiatimes.com and PCWorld.in. Enthusiastic dad, reluctant traveler, weekend gamer, LOTR nerd, pseudo bon vivant. View Full Profile
