By Armin Mokari
We can name numerous titles in the world of video games that have become groundbreaking works and left behind a great legacy. But today, in 2024, we are eagerly awaiting a game that even many non-gamers are at least familiar with by name, a title that will create a major media storm for a long time, and it’s none other than Rockstar Games’ latest creation: GTA 6.
GTA 6 will have a lasting impact on the video game industry. From the popularity of the Grand Theft Auto series and the record-breaking trailer on YouTube, along with all the buzz surrounding it before and after, to the enduring popularity of GTA 5 even after 11 years, and the release of an unforgettable masterpiece like Red Dead Redemption 2 from Rockstar.
All of this shows the insane anticipation of gamers for the release of GTA 6. But since nothing is certain in the complex processes of game development and human decisions, we can’t rule out the possibility that GTA 6might disappoint many of Rockstar’s hardcore fans. While this may seem unlikely at first glance, a closer look reveals that it’s not entirely illogical.
Unrealistic Expectations of Fans
This is the most crucial point of discussion. Fans have been dreaming about this game for years, and given its long development process, their expectations grow day by day. Some are expecting incredibly heavy visual effects on par with linear AAA games, without considering the hardware limitations of consoles. Others imagine a massive map with complete destructibility, even though, from a technical standpoint and on the scale of GTA, such an outcome is unlikely. These kinds of expectations are completely far-fetched and could lead to player disappointment.
Rockstar’s lack of transparency and its silence on the matter have contributed to these inflated expectations. If we were to face what the final version of the game actually offers earlier, and at least see a glimpse of GTA 6’s world and gameplay, most people would temper their exaggerated fantasies and instead build reasonable excitement for the game.
The Long Development Process and Dan Houser’s Departure
In the previous section, we touched on how the lengthy development process directly contributes to gamers’ unrealistic expectations, but that’s not the whole story. We know that Rockstar’s games, with their stunning and meticulous details, require a long development cycle. However, an extended timeline can also lead to numerous issues.
In addition to management challenges and financial concerns that many studios are currently facing—forcing some to downsize—there’s the possibility that outdated ideas in the story or gameplay could deal a significant blow to the game. This could also lead to the development team becoming overly obsessive. There are even rumors that the game’s story has been rewritten multiple times, which could be a result of this prolonged development process.
However, the biggest concern for hardcore Rockstar fans is the departure of Dan Houser, one of the company’s co-founders and key figures, in 2020. Although Rockstar’s leadership and its parent company, Take-Two, have assured fans that his departure won’t impact the projects, it’s becoming increasingly rare for people to trust the words of gaming company executives. Reports indicate that GTA 6’s story was completed before Dan Houser left, but his absence has undoubtedly posed challenges for the remaining members of the studio.
Cultural and Social Shifts
In recent years, the gaming industry hasn’t been immune to cultural and social movements around the world. From time to time, we hear concerning news about how equality, diversity, and inclusion (DEI) policies have an excessive influence on the development of a game or even the hiring of the development team. We’ve also seen the involvement of groups like Sweet Baby Inc in many failed games.
The pressure from these groups on the development team and the limitations they impose could distance us from the ruthless humor of GTA, which used to make bold jokes about any issue in society. In today’s world, where sensitivities around social issues have significantly heightened compared to when GTA 5 was released, Rockstar might be forced to exercise more caution. This could greatly diminish the appeal of the game for long-time fans.
GTA Online 2
There’s no doubt that GTA Online plays a major role in Rockstar’s financial success and is considered one of the largest online entertainment platforms in the world. However, the online mode could potentially prevent GTA 6 from becoming a lasting masterpiece in two ways—both of which could stem from the greed and money-driven approach of Rockstar and Take-Two’s management.
Excessive Focus on the Online Mode
Given the incredible success that GTA Online brought to GTA 5 Rockstar undoubtedly has many plans to expand and continue this part of the game, allocating significant financial and human resources to it. However, going overboard in this area could be a deadly poison for GTA 6. One of the series’ greatest strengths has always been its complex storytelling and memorable characters. Therefore, with the presence of GTA Online, the single-player campaign—which old-school fans have high expectations for—might end up weaker, and we may not see the intricate campaigns that Rockstar is known for.
Overreliance on In-Game Purchases
Another concern that could lead to player dissatisfaction is the overreliance of GTA 6’s multiplayer mode on in-game purchases. In recent years, microtransactions have become a major source of revenue for large, service-based games, and GTA Online is no exception. However, if Rockstar decides to expand this system too much in GTA 6, it could heavily impact the player experience and spark outrage among fans.
GTA 6’s Technical Performance
With the introduction of the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro, some owners of the base PS5 are worried about Rockstar and Sony potentially neglecting their console. Since there’s no news about a PC version yet, and considering the sales figures of consoles, PlayStation 5 owners are the most significant and largest audience for GTA 6.
The expectation is that the game will be optimized in such a way that it provides an enjoyable and satisfying experience on both the standard and Pro models. Otherwise, we might witness a large gap between the player communities, which could have a negative impact on the reputations of both Rockstar and Sony.
On the other side of the story, given the lower price of the Xbox Series S, a large portion of ninth-generation Xbox users naturally use this console. However, the hardware limitations of the Series S have caused considerable controversy since its launch, to the point where some users on social media have called for the cancellation of the Series S version of GTA 6to avoid delays in the game’s release.
Yet, it’s important to note that if Rockstar fails to deliver a reasonable performance on the Series S, they’ll face a wave of negative reactions from Xbox fans, as over 70% of ninth-gen Xbox buyers have chosen the Series S. That said, let’s not forget that in the eighth generation, Rockstar managed to deliver one of the most visually stunning games in history on the much weaker hardware of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Final Thoughts
The unpleasant experiences gamers have faced in recent years, along with games that launched with empty promises, have led to skepticism among many of us. Moreover, releasing the most anticipated game in history amid high expectations from fans is an incredibly challenging task, and currently, no one can say for certain what GTA 6will ultimately be like. However, Rockstar has proven itself time and again in the past, and we hope they will do so once more, allowing us to see this beloved company shine brighter than ever before.
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