Grand Theft Auto has been one of gaming's biggest franchises for years, with every new release of the series bringing huge leaps in technological bounds while delivering a gameplay experience loved by millions. The latest release Grand Theft Auto V has sold over 85 million copies and its online mode continues to rake in millions.
So with all that, it is not surprising that the rumor mill that kicks into action between releases is a particularly notorious one. Everyone wants to know what is coming next, and there are a lot of rumors floating around on the internet already with some sites even completely dedicated to just covering the latest rumors about everyone's beloved franchise.
And it has actually been a long time since Grand Theft Auto V was released back in 2013, so fans have been hoping to hear something by now; however, Rockstar remains tight-lipped. With Red Dead Redemption 2 around the corner, it will probably still be some time before we are even teased with the concept of the game. But that doesn't quiet the rumors; the internet is still full of supposed leaks and inside information. Some that surface sound genuinely fantastic and would be amazing to see, others are just plain weird and random.
So let's have a look at what the rumor machine has in store for us, shall we? Here are 10 rumors about Grand Theft Auto VI that sound absolutely incredible, and another 10 that sound pretty darn lame.
20 Incredible: A Map Spanning An Entire Country
Grand Theft Auto games usually have a significant scale for their game worlds, with Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas being a particularly memorable achievement in map size for its time. But lately, the games seem to have more focused on creating smaller, detailed worlds for the player to enjoy. Will this be the same for Grand Theft Auto VI? Perhaps not.
Rumors claim that Grand Theft Auto VI will replicate the entire U.S.
This is a rather wild rumor, although it certainly would be absolutely amazing. But is the technology really there? I don't think so, at least not for a true replication of the country. But it is possible to create a much more condensed version of the U.S that could prove to work. The game The Crew has already achieved this, creating a game version of the U.S that can be crossed in an hour.
19 Lame: No Single-Player
Grand Theft Auto Online has been incredibly successful. It beat a lot of expectations, including Rockstar's. It's been so good and earned them so much money though that many are beginning to believe that the developers may be willing to use Grand Theft Auto VI to evolve this further.
Into a completely online game, with no single-player story.
If this happened, it would be joining the ranks of games such as Destiny or Sea Of Thieves. And don't get me wrong. Those games are great fun in their own right. But is Grand Theft Auto something that would really fit being only online? The atmosphere and characters within the single-player make up a huge part of the draw of the game to many people, and having the game be completely online could harm that significantly. I do think Rockstar understands this, and therefore I do believe it to be unlikely.
18 Incredible: A Woman's Touch
Grand Theft Auto has made a few forays into representing minorities as protagonists, such as the Serbian Niko Bellic, and the African American characters Carl Johnson and Victor Vance. However, it has been a very long time since women (who make up 50% of the population) have been given the role of protagonist.
The last time was back with the original Grand Theft Auto, where 4 of the 8 selectable protagonists were female. So it's something Rockstar has done before, but not for a very long time (way back in 1997). I think it'd be a real breath of fresh air to see a female perspective on the chaotic happenings of these games, especially after Grand Theft Auto V played it really safe with two male Americans and one Canadian for main characters.
17 Lame: Already Canceled?
When we look back at the timeline of big numbered releases for Grand Theft Auto, we see a pattern. There is usually a similar gap in time between these releases. So Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas came out in 2004, then after a four-year gap, it was followed by Grand Theft Auto IV in 2008. Then five years later, the latest release Grand Theft Auto V hit the shelves in 2013. What does this all mean?
Grand Theft Auto VI is actually overdue.
Many initial predictions for the game's release place it in this very year of 2018 due to the pattern of gaps between releases. But we are yet to hear anything about the game, and this has caused some pessimistic fans to take this to mean the game is canceled. That is a huge leap, and most likely not true. Good things come to those who wait!
16 Incredible: Back To Vice City
Vice City is one of the most memorable locations of the series for many fans, with the beautiful beaches, neon lights and very fast cars on every corner ripe for the taking. So there has naturally been a large call for the game to return there. I mean, just imagine it recreated with today's graphics, it would be amazing! But would Rockstar really want to go back to an old location rather than explore something new?
Some sources are pointing to yes, with a return to Vice City likely.
TheKnow, who released the supposed information about "Project Americas", also stated within their video that the North American location for the game would take place in Miami. Which of course, is what Vice City is based on. It'd be a fantastic idea: a return to a beloved location while also having a completely new area within South America to explore.
15 Lame: Liberty City...Again
Rockstar has developed a habit of revisiting locations within older titles of the series. While with most games this would be seen as rather lazy and boring, Rockstar usually puts the effort in to completely reimagine a given place so it isn't really an issue.
GamesRadar have speculated that by looking at the history of location settings within the game, another return to Liberty City could be on the cards, which would make it the third time we have had a numbered release take us back there.
Don't get me wrong; Liberty City is just as iconic a location as any other within the series. But I personally believe that I'd find another visit there to be tiresome. It has not been too long since we last visited after all in Grand Theft Auto IV. I struggle to imagine how Rockstar could make it interesting for me once again.
14 Incredible: A Star-Studded Cast
One of the hugely interesting claims that the rumor mill has churned up about Grand Theft Auto VI is the possibility of a very A-list voice cast.
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendez have both been rumored to be taking part as voice talent in the game. It's possible they could just be minor, one-off cameos but a lot of people are hoping that they could be voicing main characters, perhaps even protagonists. Assuming Grand Theft Auto VI will have multiple protagonists like the previous entry in the series, we could end up with playable Eva Mendez and Ryan Gosling characters.
Ultimately, it'd be pretty amazing either way to hear these two within the Grand Theft Auto universe, and Rockstar definitely has the funds to afford them.
13 Lame: A Sequel To The GTA V Trio
Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Phillips made up the unlikely trio of anti-heroes within Grand Theft Auto V. They were well-liked characters, and their interactions with each other shaped the most memorable scenes of the game. The story within the game received critical acclaim, mostly due to these main characters that drove it.
Turns out there are some rumors that they may return in GTA VI.
And not just as cameos either. According to the rumor, they would appear as protagonists again, making Grand Theft Auto VI the first direct sequel in the series. But I think this would be a bad move, at the end of Grand Theft Auto V, everything was nicely tied up. They are good characters, but we should trust Rockstar can make new interesting perspectives on the same level of quality rather than focusing on the old.
12 Incredible: Both Sides Of The Law
Grand Theft Auto has always put you in a criminal's shoes. And it makes sense; the game is called what it is for a reason. The primary focus of the game has always been crime and those who commit them.
But sometimes, the penchant for chaos and sin begins to wear a little thin. There are actually mods for Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto V that let you be a police officer and actually stop crime.
And there is a possibility of this being fully expanded upon in GTA VI.
Rumors say that there could be the choice to play a police officer in the upcoming title rather than the usual criminal lusting for chaos. If Grand Theft Auto VI uses multiple protagonists like the previous title, we could even see both a cop and a criminal playable at the same time. Color me excited.
11 Lame: One Big Happy Reunion
There have been a lot of Grand Theft Auto player characters in this series. All of them are memorable in their own ways, and everyone has a favorite. The times within the series that protagonists from previous games have been referenced has always excited the fans.
Now there are rumors that in GTA VI all previous protagonists could appear.
Once you let your excitement about this idea subside, some real problems come to light. Every Grand Theft Auto character is unique from one another, from different backgrounds, and timelines. If you were going to try and include all of them in a new game (which has its own themes and ideas) I can't help but feel it'd be very out of place and forced. It would be exciting sure, but it could prove to be a real detriment to the game.
10 Incredible: A Fully Virtual Experience
Virtual reality is quickly gathering more and more pace. In just a few years we have multiple branded VR headsets to choose from (which are turning out to very popular) along with a ton of responsive, fun games to play with them.
So there's no surprise that people are hoping that the next Grand Theft Auto will have VR support, and it's causing quite a stir. It would truly add a whole new layer of immersion not seen in a Grand Theft Auto game before, and it is pretty certain Rockstar are considering its uses. They did recently release L.A Noire: The VR Case Files after all.
Is it possible the entire game will be VR compatible? With today's technology, maybe not just yet. But by the time Grand Theft Auto VI is out, it is a real possibility.
9 Lame: Uhm...Time Travel?
This one is a real doozy. No-one is really sure where this came from, but a report from Christian Today brings to the table some rather strange information.
GTA VI will have a futuristic twist, featuring time travel.
"Eh? Am I reading this right?" you are most likely thinking. But yes you are. The report is filled with many other absolutely ridiculous claims. I mean, it'd certainly be interesting to see. Time-traveling back to the Red Dead Redemption era and tearing it up in a Banshee.
But sci-fi is really not something the player-base of Grand Theft Auto want to see, at least to this level. A future setting really just doesn't fit what we have come to expect from the series. Players play Grand Theft Auto for its parodies and representations of the real-world, and therefore I don't think Rockstar will be making the sci-fi leap anytime soon.
8 Incredible: Destructible Environments
Many of the Grand Theft Auto games have innovated in some fashion. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas had an absolutely huge world for its time for example, while Grand Theft Auto IV introduced a mind-blowing physics system.
So many are wondering what technological wizardry is going to be present in Grand Theft Auto VI. There are a few rumors floating around such as hugely realistic A.I but one that has quite a lot of traction and seems most exciting to me is destructible environments.
It would be the next step in realizing a realistic world and would open up many new avenues for the player to cause chaos which is what matters most at the end of the day. That is what Grand Theft Auto is all about after all.
7 Lame: Limited To The Next Generation Of Consoles
With all the crazy rumors on the actual scope of this game that we've seen it is no wonder this rumor is starting to surface. Representing two separate continents with travel between them is incredibly ambitious, something that if implemented would be the first of its kind.
Are the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One capable of running such a thing? They would certainly have to be pushed to their limits, but depending on how Rockstar does it, it's possible. Grand Theft Auto V managed to come out on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 after all, so Rockstar has experience squeezing all they can out of a system.
This one could honestly go either way. Just make sure you have some money saved for the worst case scenario so your wallet could perhaps survive buying a new console on top of Grand Theft Auto VI.
6 Incredible: Disco Fever
The Grand Theft Auto series has represented quite a few time periods, with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City showing a very memorable depiction of the 80s, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas with the early 90s, and finally Grand Theft Auto V representing close to the modern day.
But there is one time period Rockstar is yet to touch.
The 70s hold so much potential for Rockstar to dip their toes into that I believe it is only a matter of time before they set a game in that era, and many believe it will be Grand Theft Auto VI to finally go ahead and do it. There's the Watergate scandal, the continuing Cold War...corrupt politicians and paranoia sound like a recipe for some good Grand Theft Auto characters. And just look at that fashion! I'd spend hours dressing up my character in that.
5 Lame: Only On PlayStation 5
As fans get more and more anxious waiting to hear anything from Rockstar about Grand Theft Auto VI, they are beginning to try and guess as to why it is taking so long for any kind of announcement to come out.
A big rumor circulating currently as to why that may be is that the game is being made specifically for the PlayStation 5. Which with another leap fans are making, could mean that the game would be completely exclusive to the Sony system.
Sony would have to pay Rockstar a huge amount of money to land exclusivity of Grand Theft Auto VI. Rockstar has no reason to go for it otherwise as the multiformat approach earns them the most money. So I do not think this is likely, but it would really suck if it did. Excluding large portions of your player-base arbitrarily isn't very consumer friendly.
4 Incredible: Both North And South America?
Back in March of this year, a YouTube channel known as TheKnow revealed that they had received exciting, exclusive information about Grand Theft Auto VI from an inside source. Among the tidbits of the information that was supposedly given was something very intriguing. They revealed that the next game in the series is codenamed "Project Americas." Why is it named that?
The next Grand Theft Auto will represent locations from both continents.
At the very least, it seems that a city within North America and a city within South America will be within the game, and the ability to travel between them. It would be very interesting to see how this plays out. With both countries having wholly different cultures, it would mean Rockstar would have to work double to have both represented to their usual high standard, but if they pull it off it would no doubt be amazing.
3 Lame: Still Way Too Far Away
As we went over earlier in the list, early predictions based on the gap between previous games in the series placed the release for Grand Theft Auto VI for this very year. Now we know that is incredibly unlikely, with not even a tease coming from Rockstar about an upcoming Grand Theft Auto release, not to mention how busy they are with Red Dead Redemption 2 currently. So when can we expect to finally get our hands on the new Grand Theft Auto?
Currently, analysts are predicting a 2021 or 2022 release.
And that's the best-case scenario. In an interview with GamingBolt, industry analyst Michael Pachter stated that 2022 is the most likely year to see it released with it perhaps taking even longer. So looks like the rumor mill is going to keep on running for a few years yet!
2 Incredible: A Setting Outside America?
It has been a very long time since Grand Theft Auto has explored an area outside of the U.S. The only time it has been done was with a mission pack for the original Grand Theft Auto, which took players to London in 1969. As that was so long ago, with every major release in the series lately there have been rumors that this could be the one to depart from American soil.
Could Grand Theft Auto VI be the one to finally break the mold?
There have been rumors for a multitude of non-American locations for the game to be set, most notably of which are London and Tokyo. Both would be fantastic, especially if Rockstar can really take advantage of the potential within each. It is definitely out of their comfort zone though, so all we can do is wait and see what risks they will take.
1 Lame: Realism In All The Wrong Areas
Some amount of realism is usually necessary for a game. If we as players can't parse what is happening on the screen because it is so ridiculous, or attempt something that should work within the real world but it doesn't in the game, it can really put you off.
Grand Theft Auto has always been the right balance of realism and ridiculousness. Things work how you expect them to, and it's easy to relate to the world and immerse yourself. However, rumors state Grand Theft Auto VI may be going overboard with the realism, such as adding fuel gauges to cars or having a bar that tracks the player's hunger.
Both of these things don't sound enjoyable and just would get in the way of getting to the real fun. Imagine being in a thrilling car chase but then your engine splutters because it is out of fuel. No thanks.