GTA 6 confirmed by Rockstar, but when will it come out?

Development of the next installment in the Grand Theft Auto series is finally underway, with Rockstar Games confirming Grand Theft Auto 6’s existence. This begs the question when will GTA 6 come out?  

The news comes a staggering nine years after GTA V’s initial release on the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2013, two whole console generations ago. Fans have eagerly awaited news on a new GTA title, so much so that the release of Grand Theft Auto V on the latest console generation caused controversy as many saw it as a cash grab by Rockstar Games, who could have instead been using their resources on a new game.

The unusual wait between franchise entries is largely down to the sheer success of GTA V and its online mode. While fans have been critical of the decision to continuously port the game onto new platforms, it’s ultimately because fans are still buying the games. Grand Theft Auto Online also still receives regular content updates.

Many of you have been asking about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.

With every new project, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we've previously delivered. We're pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the series is underway.

— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) February 4, 2022

The announcement of GTA6 comes after the release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy. The game includes Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City and San Andreas. The remastered version came under fire from critics for its buggy gameplay on release, stripped down features, and various other issues. Developer Grove Street Games has fixed some of these issues through patches.

When will GTA 6 be released?

There is currently no timeline for GTA 6’s release and no launch date announced, but rumors have suggested a 2023 launch is possible. 

Rockstar’s brief announcement gave away few details, including an indication of when fans can expect to get their hands on the next Grand Theft Auto title. The developer’s tweet stated that “active development” was “well underway”, indicating that they’ve been working on the game for some time. Previous rumors and reports have pointed at a possible release in 2023.

The most expensive game ever made at the time, GTA V’s development took a total of five years with development starting in 2008 and the game’s launch coming in 2013. Though this hypothetically could mean it won’t come out until 2026, it’s uncertain how long ago development actually began.