A Grand Theft Auto 6 announcement is closely imagined to be ‘imminent’ forward of an earnings name for Take-Two, the American holding firm that owns Rockstar Games.
Social media recently went into meltdown as Rockstar had updated the GTA 6 page on its website with placeholders for four screenshots under a new heading called ‘screens’ and a release date heading in the ‘specifications’ section along with mentions of ‘cover art’ and ‘digital purchases’, which could mean pre-orders, in its code too.
But this was quickly reverted back to how it looked before – with the original trailer and not much else.
Ahead of Take-Two’s earnings call, it’s been speculated an announcement could be made in the run up to it, which could be in the form of screenshots, cover art, release date or perhaps even a second trailer.
This is because the company has a history of making announcements just before such a call to drive interest and investment in the company.
But Take-Two has recently shut down other indie studios, an office and has laid off staff – it’s not yet known if Rockstar and GTA 6 have been affected but if finances are not as forecast, it could lead to delays.
Below is a roundup of some of the most recent leaks, rumours and discussions, and this will continue to be updated, so keep checking back for the latest.
Red Dead Redemption 2 soon available again on PS Plus Game Catalog
Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) is returning to the PS Plus Game Catalog.
Every month, Sony updates titles available on the upper two tiers of PlayStation’s subscription service called PS Plus.
While a plethora of titles will leave the service, including a number in the Final Fantasy series, RDR2 is coming back along with Red Dead Online.
That and a number of other titles will be playable from May 21 onwards.
RDR2 was previously available on the PS Plus upper subscription tiers but was removed in September 2022.
Rockstar co-founder making open-world adventure game
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser is reportedly working on a new open-world adventure game with his new company Absurd Ventures.
Houser co-founded Rockstar in 1998 but left in early 2020, announcing his new venture in 2023.
Video Games Chronicle reports Absurd Ventures is recruiting for seven sport growth roles together with a lead gameplay designer.
The job abstract for the publish says: “Develop into the first imaginative and prescient holder and hands-on contributor for character, controls and digicam design in an open world action-adventure sport.
“The particular person on this position will lead a crew of multi-disciplinary specialists to ship best-in-class fight and third particular person motion throughout a number of sport modes.”
‘Sketchy suburban areas’
A preferred publish on the GTA 6 Subreddit says Obelisk7777 wish to see “sketchy suburban areas in larger Leonida”.
These options have been prevalent in GTA 4‘s Liberty Metropolis, based mostly on New York, however not a lot in GTA 5‘s Los Santos, based mostly on Los Angeles.
The publish has 1.4k upvotes on the time of writing.
COYG17 mentioned: “They should undoubtedly add extra scary s**t the way in which they did in RDR2 (Pink Lifeless Redemption 2). Strolling by way of the woods and seeing lifeless our bodies then getting attacked by some group of serial killers was a cool addition.”
Tight-Fall5354 mentioned: “Within the leaks, there have been prison occasions that would occur to you want having your automobile stolen and s**t.”
Burgher1933 mentioned: “Could not agree extra. If Saint Denis’ alleyways or smaller streets are any signal of this, then we’re in for some prime degree creepiness after darkish.”
Former Rockstar director on GTA’s PS2 period
Former Rockstar technical director Obbe Vermeij has given insight on X / Twitter to some of the technical details of the Grand Theft Auto games on the PS2 which were GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas.
Vermeij worked at Rockstar North from 1995 to 2009.
He posted: “Memory on the PS2 was tight. We had to limit the number of used vehicle models to eight.
“My code would occasionally pick a car model to be phased out. Once there were none left on the map, this model would be removed and a new model could be loaded.
“The code would pick a model that was appropriate for the area (sports cars in business district, old cars in run-down areas etc).”
Popular concept map
A Redditor has shared an idea map they are saying they’ve created within the GTA 6 Subreddit.
It exhibits an extremely detailed map of how the fictional state of Leonida (the place GTA 6 is ready relies on Florida) may look as if it was on Google Earth or one thing comparable; it appears as if it has been based mostly off the GTA 6 mapping undertaking map however with out the panhandle.
The GTA 6 mapping undertaking is an internet group that is piecing collectively how Leonida may look based mostly on leaks and widespread hypothesis.
It is received 1.5k upvotes on the time of writing.
Jason sporting jail footwear?
X / Twitter user @GameRollGTA has spotted that “Jason appears to be wearing standard issue shoes which are given to convicts in federal prisons across the USA”.
This was seen in the main artwork for the game that’s so far been released.
The first trailer for GTA 6 sees Lucia in prison uniform – now there is speculation about Jason and whether he has faced, or will face, time in prison in the game.
Sex in cutscenes discussion
The GTA 6 Subreddit group has been discussing the potential inclusion of intercourse in cutscenes within the sport.
An X / Twitter consumer mentioned: “GTA 6 will embrace grownup content material together with sexual cutscenes between the 2 playable characters.”
Whereas this was reposted on Reddit as “faux”, a variety of customers have been sharing their ideas.
Eagle_1116 mentioned: “I like how consensual intercourse is taken into account kinda taboo in video video games however mass murder is not.”
TheNRG450 mentioned: “Oh belief me, Rockstar nonetheless has nightmares for the reason that Sizzling Espresso period. They will not. Most some sort of Witcher 3’s scenes.”
Sizzling Espresso is the unofficial title for a minigame included in GTA: San Andreas the place gamers may management fundamental character CJ having animated intercourse together with his girlfriend – it was eliminated when the sport really launched however the code was not deleted.
A modder disabled controls across the code and launched the modified code on-line below the title Sizzling Espresso – it received Rockstar and Take-Two right into a authorized backlash.
WeeklySavings mentioned: “I imply there’ll undoubtedly be intimate scenes between Jason and Lucia. It will by no means go too far and present them having intercourse tho lmao.”
Rockstar ‘releasing’ Pink Lifeless Redemption on PC
A Reportedly reputable Rockstar insider has said Red Dead Redemption is on its way to PC.
The game first released on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2010 and has not been made available on PC – but it appears that’s about to change.
If true, it will include the Undead Nightmare DLC too.
Take-Two earnings call – what we know so far
A composite image of the GTA 6 logo and a screenshot from the trailer
Rockstar Games
Take-Two’s earnings call is happening on May 16 at 9.30pm BST.
Because the company has previously announced games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 in the run up to such calls to drive interest and investment, it’s widely speculated an update on GTA 6 could precede the latest one.
The call will report on Q4 in the financial year for Take-Two, along with its overall performance in the full financial year and forecast for the next.
At the very least, it’s expected a company forecast for the timeline of GTA 6 will be revealed, even if there is no official update or announcement before the call.
However an investment firm is recently reported to have “revised down” its expectations for Take-Two’s earnings call and says GTA 6 could be delayed as a result.
According to Proactive Investors, Wedbush Securities mentioned: “Take-Two traders have proven a willingness to look past a near-term whiff if a giant longterm reward comes into view.”
Wedbush mentioned it expects an “underwhelming” full-year outlook for the earnings name however says it’s “assured the look forward to GTA 6 will probably be price it”.
Its full-year estimates for Take-Two is now at $6.51b in internet bookings and $5.50 in earnings per share, down from its earlier estimates of $7b and $7.
If monetary targets are usually not on observe, Wedbush is known to have mentioned this might have a knock-on impact on the event and launch of GTA 6.
On the time of Take-Two earlier earnings name in February, the corporate mentioned: “Right now, the quantity monitoring is a bit of above $7b for internet bookings or the 12 months and given the standard shifts in tweaks that happen in our forecasting course of.
“Our pipeline is groundbreaking for subsequent 12 months and past, groups are making wonderful progress on sport growth and nothing materials has modified with regard to the lifetime worth of our portfolio.”
Enroll for our free indy100 weekly publication
Learn how to be part of the indy100’s free WhatsApp channel
Have your say in our information democracy. Click on the upvote icon on the prime of the web page to assist increase this text by way of the indy100 rating