“All things on the Internet are forever,” or so they say. And it seems that this week, the “they” of the gaming community is not letting anyone forget that somewhere is a timeline where we’re all playing Grand Theft Auto VI right now. Now, some no doubt recall that in 2024, the game appeared to be on track for release in late 2025. Only then, about a year ago, the game was delayed to May 26, 2026, a fact that’s prominently featured in GTA VI’s second trailer, and something that’s causing the same video to rise through the ranks again currently, thanks to folks newly sounding off about this in the comment section. Well, we all know how things went, as late last year, GTA VI was delayed a second time to November 19th.
With everyone “celebrating” the week’s in which no one is playing GTA VI but should be, rumors about the state of the game are rampant. And really, with Rockstar being so very hush-hush about the game over the past year, you can’t blame folks for talking. On the flip side, it is rather remarkable how little has leaked out about the game. Based on previous GTA releases, it’s decently clear that Rockstar runs a tight ship with their products, and more power to them. It’s no easy task these days keeping lids on information. Further flipping things, however, the lack of GTA VI news has only further fueled the rumor mill and “fake news” output. Personally, I’ve stopped following the game on most social media channels, because it’s becoming harder to tell what GTA VI info is and isn’t real. It’s more fun being surprised, anyway, and Rockstar is pretty good about surprises.
If I’m in agreement with any current GTA VI speculation, it’s that there’s a high likelihood the game will make an appearance at Summer Game Fest. I suppose that with the “surprise” factor in full swing, Rockstar could certainly drop a new trailer or something before then. But with the anticipation that’s being built up this week and Summer Game Fest next week, the timing appears all-too perfect for Rockstar to unleash a GTA VI promotional explosion upon the world. And I do mean, “the world,” not just the gaming community. Like it or not, care about it or not, the release of GTA VI will be a defining moment in cultural history. Rockstar is guiding, and guarding, the game’s narrative tightly; the wait is as brutal as it is exciting.
Lede image: © Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto VI page.
While I’m sure GTA VI will be great, I wonder if its hype train has reached the end of its tracks. When something takes *this* long to come out and gets hit with delay after delay, I think it kills a lot of the excitement. People get tired of waiting, you know? I felt the same with Silksong. When it finally *did* come out, sure I was happy, but rather than the usual excitement for a much anticipated game, it was instead just a strange sense of relief. Like, cool, it’s finally out so now I can finally stop thinking about it. You know? It was the same for Metroid Prime 4 too, come to think of it.
Indeed, I know the feeling well. At some point, you’re so tired of having “that thing” living rent-free in your head that you can’t wait until the moment it’s gone! Like you said, between the excessively long wait. the delays, and the way GTA VI has been marketed so far, it’s all bordering on parody. But that’s also Rockstar being Rockstar it seems. Good thing there’s plenty else to pay attention to at the moment.