Nick Oulette from Vancouver is among the millions of gamers worldwide eagerly anticipating the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
“The excitement is very real for this release,” he shared with CBC News. “I genuinely believe it will be the game of the decade.”
GTAVI, the newest installment in the iconic open-world crime simulation series by Rockstar Games, is anticipated to be the largest game launch in history — and this sentiment is echoed by not only dedicated gamers but also casual players.
Earlier this month, Steven Adams of the Houston Rockets mentioned that he expects the performance of elite athletes across all major sports leagues to “drop significantly” as they dedicate more time to playing the game rather than focusing on their training routines.
Here are several factors contributing to the intense excitement surrounding GTAVI.
A hugely popular franchise
The statistics are astonishing by any standard.
Since its inception in 1997, the series has sold over 470 million copies, with Grand Theft Auto V alone accounting for more than 230 million sales. It continues to be one of the most-played games on Xbox and PlayStation platforms, largely due to its GTA Online multiplayer feature, as noted by Circana games industry analyst Mat Piscatella.
Leaked information from hackers earlier this year revealed that GTA Online generates approximately $500 million annually for Rockstar, equating to about $1.3 million each day.
Lucia and Jason, the protagonists of Grand Theft Auto VI. (Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive)
According to Piscatella, 29 percent of U.S. gamers with a console or PC plan to purchase GTAVI, whether at launch or sometime later.
“If a game achieves a purchase intent in the teens percentage-wise, it’s going to be a success. If it’s in the high single digits, it’s still impressive. But nearing one-in-three is truly remarkable,” he stated to CBC News.
A long-awaited sequel
GTAVI comes after more than a decade of heightened anticipation.
Grand Theft Auto V was first released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox One over 13 years ago. Reports suggest that development on GTAVI began approximately eight years ago. In that time, Rockstar has only unveiled one major title: Red Dead Redemption 2, which was released in 2018.
Rockstar has remained largely silent about the upcoming game, which has led to a surge in speculation and fake videos claiming to show leaked footage circulating online.
A glimpse of Vice City, one of the locations in Grand Theft Auto VI. (Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive)
What is known is that the game will feature two main characters: Jason and Lucia, a couple navigating their romantic relationship while embarking on criminal endeavors in Leonida, a satirical representation of Florida within the GTA universe. However, there are few details available about the plot or gameplay mechanics.
“There is still so much we do not know about GTAVI, making it quite mysterious … including its budget,” explained Nadia Oxford, a Toronto-based gaming writer and podcaster.
According to Oxford, open-world games with the level of ambition seen in GTA are uncommon, primarily due to their “extremely high production costs” associated with current industry standards.
Speculation this fall suggested that GTAVI’s budget might have exceeded the $1.5 billion US used to construct Dubai’s Burj Khalifa; Rockstar denied this assertion in interviews with Bloomberg, but did not disclose any budget specifics.
A life simulator with a twist
Oulette estimates that he has spent around 500 hours playing GTAV; a significant portion of that time was during the COVID-19 lockdown, connecting with friends online.
“That played a significant role in maintaining my mental health,” he remarked, “as it allowed me to hop in a car with a friend and just cruise down the coast while checking in on each other.”
According to Oulette, the intricately crafted worlds within the game surpass those found in similar titles, thanks to its licensed music and storylines that cleverly critique real-world pop culture and politics.
“It somehow helps you feel a bit more grounded in this chaotic world while playing [this] video game,” he noted.
Stephen Totilo, a games reporter based in New Jersey, points out that while the GTA series has built a reputation as a “mayhem simulator,” there are numerous ways to engage with the game that do not involve chaos.
“Many perceive the GTA games as shock titles…. It’s the crime, it’s the sexuality, it’s the strong language,” he explained.
“However, I believe that’s only part of what makes Rockstar’s approach interesting, and what stands out to me … is their attempt to simulate or even gamify various aspects within the game world.”
Initial reports have suggested that GTAVI may take this concept further than previous games, necessitating players to refuel their vehicles, eat nutritious food, and maintain a fitness routine at the gym to prevent gaining weight that could hinder their effectiveness in combat.
Totilo expressed curiosity about whether keeping up with the “gamified realism simulation” will still be enjoyable for gamers.
A history of controversies
The GTA franchise has a lengthy record of controversies. Oxford recalls the moral outrage surrounding players’ ability to harm civilians, including sex workers, as well as a notorious sex scene that was ultimately removed from 2004’s GTA: San Andreas. Unfinished files of the interactive sex scene were discovered and leaked online under the title “Hot Coffee.” The U.S. Federal Trade Commission criticized Rockstar for not revealing its existence, despite it not being included in the final retail version.
The very first GTA, a top-down 2D game, faced harsh criticism in the U.K. House of Lords for its violent content, particularly the option to run over pedestrians.
GTAVI has already experienced its own controversies even before its official release. Hackers have leaked incomplete game content, reportedly revealing elements like beaches bustling with people, Jason cloning a car’s key fob to steal it and players walking around completely unclothed.
Additionally, former Rockstar employees in the U.K. are bringing the company to court after allegedly terminating several staff members (including three in Canada) for attempting to unionize.
Jason and Lucia in Grand Theft Auto VI. (Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive)
A love story at its core
Beyond the chaos, thefts, and explosions, Totilo suggests that GTAVI may unfold as the most prominent love story ever depicted in a video game.
“There have been numerous romantic narratives in video games before, but nothing of this magnitude. No one has ever invested potentially a billion dollars into creating a game that seems to focus on a couple’s story,” he remarked, noting that this is also the first instance of a female main character being playable in a GTA game outside of its online versions.
“I believe this is a significant moment for both the industry and gaming culture.”
