The specter of a GTA 6 delay haunts the games industry: 'Some companies are going to tank' if they guess wrong, says analyst
The specter of a GTA 6 delay haunts the games industry: 'Some companies are going to tank' if they guess wrong, says analyst
What's with half the commenters acting like GTA V isn't a great game?
Y'all know GTA Online is a different game technically, yeah? The single player of GTA V is still there and even better now that Enhanced is on PC. Rockstar didn't fuck Up RDR2s single-player Mode so why assume they would on this?
Even GTA Online was fantastic. There's so much to do and the heists and races were a lot of fun. I think I had more fun playing online than in the single player mode. I definitely put more time into it.
Shark cards never bothered me because I never got one.
I still haven’t played GTA5. Does it hold up (single-player) all those years later?
gameplay-wise, yeah absolutely. writing-wise, pretty alright, some hits and some misses. kinda like south park.
I remember liking GTA4 but getting burned out on its archaic in my view mission design.
While at one point GTA was my favorite series and I was absolutely hyped for GTA V, I’m not for this one. I kind of feel like I’m getting a little old for GTA.
Maybe I’ll change my mind after it releases and there’s a good chance I’ll play it anyway, but right now… meh.
Who cares when it releases, you know it's gonna be crap.
I don't know why but I couldn't give two shits about GTA6, maybe I'm just burned out on AAA games
It's just so meh. Another city, you're a criminal doing crime. There are just games with much better stories or mechanics at this point. I don't get the hype around it.
Because it will be full of micro transactions and bullshit content no-one asked for, with anti cheat horseshit that will pretty much be a virus on your computer.
Sad thing is that it'll still sell millions because most people don't even know when they are being served shit.
No doubt it'll also have Denuvo, just to make the game run even worse too.
I'm the same but I may just be getting older. Last game I was hyped for was Cyberpunk 2077 coming off of the stellar Witcher 3 and having followed both games I loved, W1 & W2. Sometime before it released, I just dropped all hype for it and haven't felt the same after. Haven't even played it yet either.
Today, I let myself be pleasantly surprised by games I never thought I'd like. I really liked Death Stranding and I'm waiting for its sequel but still no hype... I haven't even seen the trailer yet and I doubt I will... I'll buy it and go in blindly. Just have a PS for Sony's once a year AAA and that's it for AAA gaming. Most other days, its just AA or indie games on PC.. which is where I find a lot more flavor. As an example, this month, I've played Minami Lane, MudRunner and Art of Rally and starting Tactical Breach Wizards soon.
I'm holding out some hope for GTA VI still. Reason being, while Cyberpunk promised to be super duper everything interconnected magic programming to follow an absolutely awesome but technologically realistic game (Witcher 3), I haven't seen hype like that for GTA VI. The expectation is to get a well polished freeroam game with lots of fun toys to play around with, a story that's hopefully long enough to be worth the game's price, and a new Online mode that gets updates over time. Basically GTA V with a new city and a more polished game overall, but no exponential leaps - despite the fact that the budget is much larger than Cyberpunk.
But I mean MudRunner is also awesome. Couldn't get into Death Stranding myself, just wasn't feeling it. Should pick up Art of Rally soon. Tons of great AA and indie games out there if GTA VI flops indeed.
Im completelly opposide. Its maybe only AAA game im intrested in long time.
Mostly because of their track record. I have been playing GTA since the very first top down game and every main game in the series has pushed the games further.
Thinking how big leaps every game has done, i cant wait to see what kind of the beast 6 is going to be.
I just want trains to work in this new game. They never make trains work properly they're always just indestructible juggernauts and are therefore boring. GTA V had submarines but not drivable trains.
maybe I’m just burned out on AAA games
I know I am.
Companies need to grow a spine. Good games sell regardless of what’s out. If your confidence in your own game is so low that you’d push it to a slow release date, it’s probably not worth playing anyway.
Ask Titanfall 2 how well launching between Battlefield and CoD went for them
Release dates of big games matter, people only have so much disposable income
I don’t know about that one. Games are expensive these days and if your game releases anywhere near the rumored $100 GTA 6, a LOT of people are going to have to choose one or the other, and it’s very unlikely that in most cases they don’t choose GTA6, literally the most anticipated video game of the last decade. Sure you can always buy the smaller game later, but a huge part of the sales of video games is the opening week, when all the hype around it has had time to come to a head, and you’re influenced by the fact that lots of other people are playing it.
Yeah good games will always sell SOME copies. But if you thinking that a game even releasing in the same month as GTA6 won’t have a permanent impact on that games sales, you’re smoking the reefer.
if you thinking that a game even releasing in the same month as GTA6 won’t have a permanent impact on that games sales, you’re smoking the reefer.
Maybe they should stop trying to peddle bland-ass live service games that live and die by their players numbers then. A good solo game might take a hit to its initial sales but should recover in the long run.
I think what you’re saying is true but perhaps you’re both talking about different things. I think you’re speaking about the reality of the situation whereas the comment OP is talking about the risk averse nature of large game studios. I don’t think it’s the same thing.
Also, I think I’m part of a growing minority but if gta 6 reviews are bad I’m not buying it until I hear it’s been fixed. I’ve been burned so many times 😭
that's not true. games can absolutely get fucked by release dates coinciding with big names. and have.
The two Horizon games picked really shitty weeks to release on lol. I think that's done significant damage to the player base. They're not groundbreaking games, but still extremely well done (imo)
I'd pay over $100 for GTA6 personally. And microtransactions aren't out of the question for me either. I don't have nearly as much time as money these days. Not that I have a lot of money, but I'll pay it if it makes the experience better
Comments like yours are why the overwhelming majority of video games these days suck.
Yup. "Please bend me over and fuck me for all I'm worth, corpo daddy!" type energy. Some people just can't get enough of being exploited.
You have no time, but plenty of money, so you are willing to spend extra money just for the sake of having no time AND no money? Get that corpo dick out of your mouth.
Even if I was a millionaire I wouldn't want my games to have micro transactions in them. It's not about the cost, it's about the fact that as soon as micro transactions are included in the game, the game instantly becomes all about pushing those microtransactions, to the detriment of the gameplay.
Also you are mad if you prepare to pay $100 for GTA VI especially because we all know that it'll be discounted at some point.
This is so strange. Wasn't it not long ago that studios were crowding into very specific release windows ( usually november iirc ) so they could maximize initial sales? Maybe the digital release era has changed things. I mean, I get it if your game was in the same niche or smth, but "companies might tank" seems a little much.
Either way, if this is true, eoy 2025 is in for a dry spell when it comes to new games.
Edit: Also I find it hilarious how all these "industry analysts" keep popping up suggesting ominous things despite Rockstar not saying a peep about the game besides the trailer. Almost as if they were paid to do it.
They aren’t crowding into those windows because competition helps their sales, it’s because they expect the biggest shopping period of the year will result in more sales than they lose. And there’s a reason only the biggest titles release in these windows.
Capcom made the decision years ago to release in February/March because they know a November window will drown them.
Over time they realised that, while holiday windows or whatever have high sales, if there's a better or more popular game coming out then, yours will just be forgotten.
That said, most "industry specialists" are just glorified influencers, so take it with a grain of salt
Sure is a great way to stir the pot, that's for sure. This article raised my eyebrow so much I just had to share it.
Judging by all the shark card crap they jammed into the last GTA, I fully expect them to shovel a bunch of crap in to make more money: $70 base games, deluxe editions, DLC, micro transactions, social club integration, required internet connections, all of it.
I miss the old GTAs before they got greedy.
Take your console exclusive bullshit and shove it up your ass. I'll play it when it's on PC. And only on PC.
I'll go a step further and say only when it's been vetted and discounted on PC.
This will probably be the last time it ever happens. They're trying to get people to double dip, and plenty will, but the console install base isn't what it was when GTA V came out at the end of a generation. Plus we all know full well that the PC version will happen, whereas in yesteryear, we weren't sure.
the console install base isn't what it was when GTA V came out at the end of a generation.
I had a look to check the figures.
From the PlayStation perspective February 2025 estimates put the PS5 at 74.9m, while January 2013 estimates put the PS3 at 77m.
However Xbox is really letting their numbers lag with 28.3m Series consoles sold by September 2024 vs 77.2m 360 consoles by April 2013.
If we were just talking PlayStation I would say 97% is near enough to make no difference but if we compare both platforms together its only 67% and that is enough to influence strategy. A console only release in 2025 is unlikely to eclipse GTA5's position as "fastest-selling entertainment product in history".
And only on PC
That's going to be a long wait my friend.
K. You do that.
K
I just don't have the patience to wait even more. I have a PS5, so why wouldn't I play it on release??
Because I don't want to play full price for a 1080p upscaled experience at 30fps. If it's a good experience then it will be worth the wait and that much better when it runs smoother, looks better, and loads faster. Plus it will have most of the bugs worked by then.
Because I don't want console level performance when I play it for the first time
Because of backlogs and eventual price drops /sales
Why would you want to pay $70 for a pay to win game at all?
I'm not quite sure why they're so concerned. I suspect they're actually not and this is just things "analysts" say.
I suspect that the release of GTA VI is going to be lukewarm compared to the release of GTA V, because everyone remembered what Rockstar did to GTA V. People are going to wait around and see how they handle GTA online because they need to do better than last time because last time was ridiculous.
I'm certainly not all that interested in getting it day one and I know a lot of other people aren't either.
because everyone remembered what Rockstar did to GTA V
Released a fantastic game worth replaying multiple times?
GTA Online =/= GTA V
GTA5 is more than a decade ago,.
The older gemers may remember but there is a whole generation that has spung up since.
Edit: a quick look shows there were 1.7 billion people born between 1995 and 2007 i.e. born in the period that would have trurned 18 between 2013 and 2025.. This corresponds to 20% of the global population.
Nice of you to assume there are no underage players of GTA V
born between 1995 and 2007 i.e. born in the period that would have trurned 18 between 2013 and 2015
I don't know. Gamers have very short memory and are driven by FOMO and social media coverage.
Just look at the whole Cyberpunk situation. Or, more recently, the Sparking Zero drama. Everyone pre-ordered the 120$ edition to play earlier, just because of shiny graphics ™️. Then, when the honey moon phase was over, the subreddit turned into a shithole full of frustration and complaints. The playercount numbers dropped. All you can see now is reports of bugs, glitches and so on. But still, most of these folks are already considering the purchase of SZ2, cause they are sure devs will definitely fix the issues.
Just watch GTA 6 pre-orders skyrocket as soon as Rockstar drops the 2nd trailer, next year.
There's absolutely zero reason to pre-order the bonuses you get are never worth it and it's not like they're going to run out. Hell I didn't pre-order GTA V and I got it day one on both PS3 and Xbox 360 but just walking into a store on lunch time. And that was a physical media now everything's gone digital is even less reason to pre-order.
So I'll not be pre-ordering regardless, but I wouldn't be pre-ordering anyway because I don't trust Rockstar anymore. I'm not saying that the game will be bad I'm just saying I don't trust Rockstar fully anymore. I also don't trust CDPR anymore because of cyberpunk. Yeah they fixed it but so what, I don't want to be encouraging that kind of release strategy. Same thing with hello games, If they want people to go back to buying their games by default, these companies have to release some whoppers with zero issues day one to get back their reputation.
controversial take, but I hope they do delay it. Better a good game late than a bad game early. As big as this release is, it HAS to be good.
Yeah, the Witcher 3 release should have taught the game publishers this. CDPR delayed the launch by several months because the game wasn’t ready to ship yet. And the game was phenomenal, and received rave reviews pretty much across the board. Gamers were disappointed about the launch, but basically went “this game will be worth the wait.”
Funny how CDPR themselves then had a major fuck up with Cyberpunk
...and they followed it with Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous launch but ultimate success. So I wouldn't hold CDPR as a high standard.
You realize that rockstar basically invented this strategy right? Almost every release since vice city or San Andreas has been delayed by 6 months to a year to be the best game possible.
big games get delayed, a lot
And yet so many of them still suck at launch.
That's cause the business side keeps pushing for increasingly unrealistic deadlines and will only accept delaying so much before forcing it out.
Weird vibes in this comment section.
They are all from players who are against things Rockstar did with GTA and what it represents for the industry. But they are not representative of the whole market.
The article is right about the impact for small studios. On the timeline for the game I'm working on, we have a prediction for GTA VI release with a big question mark and we hope to avoid it.
The problem is not that all players will spend $100 on the game. The problem is that the majority of the press coverage, Steam traffic, streamer time, etc. will focus on the topic. Even if there is bad press around GTA, that's still attention that is not on other games.
Exactly this. I work in the games industry as well and even big studios are falling over themselves NOT to release anywhere near GTA6.
Nobody believes there won't be people playing other games at that time. But it's going to dominate the media cycle for a month, especially if it is either better or worse than fans hope. And the reality is that many, many people have limited gaming budgets. If you've only got $100 to spend, GTA6 is very likely to be the default pick at that time.
It's a behemoth in terms of grabbing attention from both the media and players. All the best laid plans for a successful release can be completely derailed by a game like GTA6.
I really didn't know what to expect with this article. That being said, the industry holding their breath on GTA 6 is a bit much, to say the least.
Wait, do people still get excited for GTA? I thought GTA V online killed a lot of goodwill for the series.
Are you seriously questioning whether there is any hype for GTA?
GTAV Online may have hindered Rockstar's goodwill for fans of the single player mode, but the Online mode rakes in cash.
RDR2 released in 2018 and is widely considered one of the best single player games with one of the best open worlds, strongly signalling to fans that Rockstar hasn't lost its mojo.
GTA VI is, unquestionably, the most anticipated game of the year. To suggest otherwise is to be insanely disingenuous on your part.
The main writers have since left Rockstar. Dan Houser left in 2020. I feel GTA will lose it's charm with this next entry, I hope I am wrong, but something just feels off. Either way, won't be buying it until it's on a good sale, reviews dependent too.
No, I'm honestly surprised. I've barely heard anything about GTA VI. Seriously. I don't care about it, none of my friends have talked about it despite being the kinda game that they'd be into, and I've only seen one or two articles on it.
You sure it's that highly anticipated? My observation is that people have gotten really sick and tired of AAA games, and this is a shift that's occurred since RDR2 came out. Very few of the people I know still regularly play AAA games, and those who do almost never buy them on launch. I haven't seen anywhere near the same amount of hype for GTA VI as I saw for GTA IV or GTA V.
You're accusing me of being disingenuous? Maybe you're the one who's buying into the hype and overestimating public interest. Or perhaps the true answer is somewhere in the middle. Who knows. I was not intentionally downplaying your favorite series though.
yeah not really interested to buy it outside of a sale when its obvious they will go overdrive on online revenue in 6
It did. I've been a GTA player since the first one kn PS1.
I've bought every GTA game.
I have zero interest in GTA6.
Same here. GTAV, while I liked it, was a minor disappointment for me and I burned out on it. Plus after seeing how GTA Online went and how greedy they got with it, I'm just not interested in Take Two/Rockstar games anymore.
not to mention they decided to block Linux users back in October. I had very little interest in it in the last 6 or 7 years, but I decided when a friend played it I would try to join, just to be met with performance issues and getting kicked offline due to their anticheat. So stupid. It worked for years in Linux, then they just decide to boot it.
I lost what little interest period in anything GTA from that.
I'll wait until it gets free on Epic and proceed not playing it, since i have better things to do with my life.
They want $100 for this. They are trying to make games expensive again.
In my mind, the bigger and more expensive the dev team, the more likely the business people are to be involved. Those business types really know how to suck fun and fairness out of games in an attempt to turn it into unbridled profits.
Buy a handful of games from small independent studios instead of this if you feel similarly to me.
Was the $100 price ever confirmed? I thought it was just rumored?
The only thing Rockstar has ever officially released about the game is the teaser trailer. Everything else is pure speculation and rumormilling.
Gaming industry pundits are gooning so hard for the prospect of $100.00 standard games they keep parroting this out hoping it will become true
Are you asking me if I can predict the future?
Fun facts incoming!
Cost of "Mario 64" on release = $59.99
Development budget for Mario 64 = ~$1.56mil
Inflation adjusted Mario 64 cost in 2022 = $111.91
Inflation adjusted Mario 64 budget in 2022 = ~$2.91mil
Cost of "Elden Ring" on release = $59.99
Estimated dev. budget for Elder Ring = $100mil-200mil
Mario 64 units sold = ~12mil
Elder Ring units sold = ~28mil
These details are provided without comment. You do the math and decide whether the fact that prices haven't changed since 1996 might be the reason for some of the enshitification we continue to see.
And now for the comment:
Consumers are horrifyingly resistant to price increases for games. It is directly responsible for many of the shitty monetization models we've seen. Development budget continue to rise, even on indie games, while consumers pay less and less in "real money value" over time.
It's completely unsustainable and the very reason the "business types" get involved, forcing unpopular monetization schemes
And yet, these days I am finding better games, made by smaller teams, for lower prices (usually between $30-40) from indie devs. The cost ain't the reason for enshittification, and paying a higher price will not mean we get better games.
You're very conveniently and likely deliberately leaving out that more than 1/2 the cost for Mario 64 was manufacturing the cartridge...
Now throw in average incomes on the low, medium, and high ends and see if that makes any difference in your criticism of people not wanting to spend so much on a game they might get a hundred or so hours out of.
Hell, throw in the average housing costs and costs of consumables while we're at it.
meh, I don't think that the reason AAA games are bad is because they cost less. I think it's just greed and rushing the developers.
Cartridge manufacturing and distribution was hella expensive back then and that took a big bite on any sales.
Digital storefronts do take as well their lion share though, but that's on sales.
$100 seems like a stretch to me as they have been giving the last game away for free several times on Epic. But who knows with the console crowd...
They'd ask $1000 for it if they thought people will pay it. No one at Take Two or Rockstar has said this. Most likely is they'll do that $100 "advance access" thing that a lot of AAA games like to do, where you get the game a few days early. The business hasn't gotten in the way of the fun or fairness of the campaign mode for Rockstar's previous efforts, and if it did this time, we'll certainly hear about it immediately.
If your game can't even complete with a game nobody knows anything about and doesn't even have a set release date, maybe your game just fucking sucks?
I do wanna point out that one of the Horizon games (I believe the second) got pretty screwed by releasing within a week of Elden Ring and didn't suck. Publishers big and small do need to be careful to not release within a time frame of absolutely massive releases such as Elden Ring and, inevitably, GTA6.
Even if the game doesn't let you play on release day, I'm willing to bet my kidney that it'll sell millions of copies and nothing big will be released within a month of it
Release timing is always a critical thing to think about, whether you're talking about games, movies, TV series, or toys.
More like the sphincter of GTA 6 am I right?