Rockstar Games is set to launch Grand Theft Auto VI on 19 November 2024, ending a 13‑year gap since the franchise’s last main entry. The new title, which has been in development for eight years, carries a reported budget of over $1 billion, making it the most expensive video‑game project in history.
The game follows two protagonists – former drug‑runner Jason and newly released ex‑con Lucia – as they navigate Vice City, a fictionalised version of Miami. Lucia marks the first time a main‑series GTA title features a playable female character in its nearly three‑decade history.
A massive marketing push began in late 2023 with the release of the first official trailer. “It is going to be the biggest entertainment launch of all time,” said Chris Dring of The Game Business outlet, speaking to AFP.
Financial analysts are forecasting record‑breaking sales. Sensor Tower reports that pre‑sales have already generated about $750 million, while consultancy Circana notes that roughly one‑third of the 49 million U.S. PS5 and Xbox Series owners intend to purchase the game. “The purchase intent that we’re seeing on ‘Grand Theft Auto’ is far away above any other game we’ve ever tracked,” said Mat Piscatella of Circana.
The hype is influencing the wider video‑game sector. Several studios have postponed new releases to avoid clashing with GTA VI’s launch window, and analysts expect the title to boost console sales and accessory demand. Dring added, “They’ve spent a long time on this game, but they are probably the top game entertainment creators in the world.”
GTA V, the series’ previous entry, remains the second‑biggest selling game ever, reaching $1 billion in sales within three days – just two days fewer than the film Avengers: Endgame. The franchise’s reputation for graphic depictions of sex, violence and misogyny has long sparked controversy, a factor that has historically amplified its commercial success.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
