It’s been over ten years since GTA 5 was released in 2013, and fans have been waiting for GTA 6 ever since.
Rockstar Games is known for taking the time to create top-quality games. With GTA 6 expected to come out in Fall 2025, many are wondering just how long the game has been in development.
The development process for GTA 6 has been long, with different stages of progress and challenges along the way.
Let’s take a closer look at how long has GTA 6 been in development and what has caused the delay.
When Did GTA 6 Development Start?
GTA 6 started development in 2014, just one year after GTA V launched in 2013. This means that by the time the game is released in 2025, it will have been in development for around 11 years.
That’s a long time, but Rockstar is known for taking its time to ensure that every detail is perfect.
Even though GTA 6 started in 2014, it wasn’t Rockstar’s main focus at the time.
The company was busy with another major project, Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2), which came out in 2018. Once RDR2 was released, Rockstar shifted more attention to GTA 6.
Why Has It Taken So Long?
One big reason GTA 6 has taken so long is that Rockstar was focused on other projects, like Red Dead Redemption 2.
RDR2 took about eight years to develop, with much of the team working on it until its release in 2018.
This meant that GTA 6 didn’t get the full attention it needed until after RDR2 was finished.
In addition, Rockstar decided to put some planned projects, like remastering older games, on hold so they could focus all their energy on GTA 6.
This included stopping updates for Red Dead Online so the team could work on GTA 6 full-time.
Challenges During GTA 6 Development
Developing a game like GTA 6 comes with challenges. Rockstar had to deal with leaks about the game, including information about the main characters, Lucia and Jason.
The company has also been making an effort to avoid controversial humor from previous GTA games, making GTA 6 more thoughtful and respectful in its approach.
In early 2024, Rockstar made a move to have all staff return to the office, which was reportedly done to improve productivity and make sure the game could be finished on time.
This decision was made as the game entered its final stages of development, with Rockstar aiming for a Fall 2025 release.
A Long Development Process
When looking at the timeline, GTA 6 has been in development for almost 11 years, which is much longer than previous GTA games.
For example, GTA 5 took about five years to develop, but Rockstar seems to be taking more time with GTA 6 because of its scale and ambition.
Rockstar wants to make sure GTA 6 lives up to the huge expectations set by GTA 5, which became one of the best-selling video games of all time.
The team is working hard to create a massive open-world experience that will be more detailed and engaging than anything they’ve done before.
Final Thoughts
Even though GTA 6 has been in development for a long time, the wait should be worth it.
Rockstar Games has a history of releasing high-quality games, and with over a decade of work behind GTA 6, fans can expect something truly special when it finally arrives in 2025.
In conclusion, GTA 6 has been in development since 2014, and while it has taken longer than expected, Rockstar has been focused on making sure it’s the best game possible.
With the release date approaching, players around the world are eagerly waiting to explore the next big open-world adventure in the Grand Theft Auto series.
