The “GTA VI” trailer has shed light on a long-awaited sequel for the first time in more than a decade since the release of “GTA V”.
The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series is a collection of games produced by Rockstar Games. Since its introduction in 1997, it has grown to become one of the highest-grossing video game franchises of all time and its newest installment, “GTA VI”, may be the most popular one yet.
The trailer reveals a variety of new additions to the game, the biggest one being the change in protagonists. In “GTA V”, there are three protagonists: Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton and Trevor Philips. In “GTA VI”, the new protagonists are Lucia and her partner-in-crime Jason. This signifies a big change in the franchise, as it’s the first time that there’s been a female protagonist in the GTA games. In addition to new characters, the trailer features a brand new map called Leonida that is based in Florida.
Since the release of “GTA V” in 2013, fans have been patiently waiting for the next addition. However, 10 years of waiting can wear down the hope of even a dedicated fan. It reached a point where the idea of its release became a joke, with fans posting memes about extraordinary events such as pigs flying or dogs scuba diving before the release of “GTA VI,” reflecting their pent up anticipation.
With the long-awaited release of the “GTA VI,” trailer fans burst with excitement skyrocketing the trailer’s view count. Within just three days of its release, it surpassed the number of views the “GTA V” trailer had accumulated in its entire lifetime, reaching around 130 million views. “The moment we’ve been waiting for, the ‘GTA VI’ trailer has just dropped after all this time … I’m very excited and scared and don’t know what to say,” Zerkaa, a dedicated GTA streamer who has been playing the game for 11 years, said.
But behind all the excitement that it brought, the trailer has left fans with even more questions than answers. Questions like where the game can be played, details on the story and a precise release date have yet to be answered.
Sadly, the only inkling of information we have on the story relies on a collection of leaked footage of the game in its early stages of development. They show a storyline revolving around the two protagonists Lucia and Jason, which many fans speculate will have a Bonnie and Clyde-esque feel.
Though many questions remain unanswered, fans have uncovered a few details with some digging, one of which hints at a potential release date. While the trailer has revealed that the game will be released on the PS5 and Xbox series X sometime in 2025, Take-Two Interactive’s (the owner of Rockstar Games) investor presentation narrows the release down further. They predict a $3 billion increase in revenue between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, which is their fiscal year for 2025. No release other than “GTA VI” would be likely to produce this result, because sales of that magnitude would require record-breaking fan anticipation. Additionally, the suspected partner-in-crime themed story leads fans to suspect Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14, 2025 will be the perfect release date.
Regarding a PC version, Rockstar Games hasn’t given out any information on when a release can be expected. However, if the game follows the pattern of previous titles, the PC version is likely to be issued a few months after the initial release, though internal delays and the company’s new policy to reduce overwork may postpone the release. Fortunately, the company has a track record of staying true to its release dates, so we can all sit back in assurance that the long-anticipated sequel is finally confirmed. Late is better than never.
