Could GTA 6 Become the Biggest Entertainment Property Yet?
Having recently dropped its first official trailer on its way to a 2025 release date, the hype train for the long-awaited GTA 6 is finally gaining steam. Given the past of this series and its developer’s pedigree, we have to wonder: does Grand Theft Auto 6 have what it takes to be the biggest and most profitable entertainment property of its era?
The GTA Legacy
When the first Grant Theft Auto launched for the PS1, MS-DOS, and Windows back in 1997, it was a revelation in game design. GTA was open-world carnage and action, with its top-down 2D visuals opening our imaginations to what a video game sandbox would represent. Even better, this game was released for free by Rockstar for legal download years later, though compatibility might prove an issue on modern machines.
GTA 3 built on this success on the PS2, as it moved into the 3D space, and revolutionised the gaming market. The success of this game led to an industry-wide shift, with its sequels of Vice City and San Andreas pushing gaming into the mainstream on a scale few series have matched. GTA 4 then brought physics simulations into the equation, with simple obstacles like stairs suddenly becoming an instant source of hilarity.
The final step in what would consolidate the momentum of Grand Theft Auto came with the launch of GTA 5 in 2013. With a dense world and engaging story, 5 raised the bar, but it was the game’s online mode, appropriately called GTA Online, that really stood out. GTA 5 took the multiplayer functionality from 4 and extended it massively, adding player housing, gangs, racing, and a powerful map and game mode maker.
Online in GTA continued to succeed in its evolution and support, as it took inspiration from other industries in its gradual evolution. Perhaps best illustrating this approach is the online casino market with services like Buzz Bingo and its Action Bank slot. Originally games like this were online compatible with PCs, but since then they’ve become available on smartphones and tablets, increasing their availability massively. Accessibility proved key, and GTA Online invested heavily in this path, added to with patches with new cars, content, and appropriately, a casino.
GTA Online moved from the PS3 to the PS4, and now to the PS5, alongside other platforms. By continually adding new systems and leaning on social media, GTA Online eventually became the single most profitable piece of media ever. Generating around $7.7 billion so far, we have to expect the online mode for GTA 6 will receive immense planning and attention.
Making GTA 6 Last
GTA 6 has already received a massive amount of attention on social media, with the trailer reaching 93 million views in just 24 hours. As the first entry in more than ten years, the developers and publishers will want this title to hit the ground running, leveraging the lessons learned from GTA Online’s success.
What we expect with GTA6 is a cutting-edge game that’s designed from the ground up to stand the test of time. It’s likely to run at 30 FPS on current-gen consoles, which while not great for players, will ensure fidelity that translates better to future platforms. A lack of PC support at launch will also make piracy difficult, meaning an even more profitable launch.
In simple terms, GTA 6 has a running start on what is likely to be the biggest game of the generation. Whether this translates to similar success as enjoyed by GTA 5 remains to be seen, but provided the developers are paying attention, it wouldn’t be a surprising development. Let’s just hope they get ahead of the hacker problem this time, as they’ve demonstrated they have the financial means to do so.
