There’s little we can say that hasn’t already been said about what is probably one of the most anticipated video games in history.
Hot on the heels of a disappointing delay announcement, Rockstar Games, a subsidiary of Take Two publishing blessed the eager fan base with a second trailer for their upcoming game Grand Theft Auto VI.
For the sixth main instalment of the wildly popular franchise we again return to the fictional state of Leonida, first debuted in the 80s inspired “Vice City” version of Grand Theft Auto.
This second trailer again gives us a high definition preview of a modern day Vice City (loosely based on Miami, Florida, USA) showing us the protagonists and potentially other side characters in a variety of situations. The graphics show a clear upgrade from the evergreen GTA 5, showing the level of work that has gone into making sure this game completely eclipses whatever came before.
While no specific details have been confirmed by Rockstar Games, the game is expected to feature a modern day Vice city and several new regions:
- Leonida Keys – a tropical archipelago based on the Florida Keys
- Grasslands – swampy areas inspired by the Everglades
- Port Gelhorn – an industrial port town
- Ambrosia – a countryside area, dominated by biker gangs
- Mount Kalaga – a mountainous national park, good for off road adventures and no-doubt some excellent hunting opportunities
In Rockstars own words they describe it as the “biggest, most immersive evolution” of the series.
Dual Protagonist debut: Lucia & Jason
This will be the first GTA game with two main characters
Jason Duval, a gritty ex soldier engaged in petty crime on behalf of local drug runners and Lucia Caminos, an ex-convict shown in the first trailer being released from Leonida Penitentiary. We don’t yet know the full story, but its heavily inferred that some kind of Bonnie and Clyde thing will be going on.
Gameplay
Many fans complained about the simplification of in game activities compared to the now legendary San Andreas instalment so it’s looking like Rockstar want to fully utilise the power of current gen consoles to bring depth back to the game. While nothing has been confirmed, we could expect to see:
- Gym Workouts – to improve character stats
- Basketball and American Pool (Billards) – available as mini games to enhance the overall experience
- Improved police AI – The police response to crime will be more nuanced, adding more variety to the player experience
- Improved crew and heist mechanics – This should improve the playability of heists and lead to a greater variety of outcomes
- Improved multi-player experience – No doubt multiplayer will be a major part of the games longevity
Release Date, Pricing & Platforms
Official pricing hasn’t yet been confirmed, but rumours are the pricing could be as high as $100 (£75) for some editions of the game. No doubt pricing will have been given a lot of consideration due to the massive anticipated demand combined with a worldwide cost of living crisis.
The game is expected to be available on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S at launch. Theres no word of a PC release yet, but with past GTA editions this has always been delayed, probably because they cant make as much money from game sales.
Given that it has been almost 13 years since the last major GTA release, it’s safe to say that Rockstar Games expects this new game to last until the 2040s, but only time will tell.
Are you looking forward to the next GTA release?
