GTA VI will reflect the tone of Rockstar’s new progressive culture

There was a time when Rockstar Games’ controversial, yet hugely popular, Grand Theft Auto series made headlines with a new release on a frequent basis. Aside from revolutionizing the video games industry by laying the groundwork for the open-world genre to explode in popularity, GTA also pushed the boundaries of mainstream media with its over-the-top satire on American culture and politics. Now, however, with an official confirmation that Rockstar is actually working on Grand Theft Auto VI, we may be at the dawn of a new era.

As reported by Bloomberg earlier this morning, Rockstar Games recently underwent a massive workplace culture overhaul. The company, once notoriously associated for its frat house culture, took multiple initiatives to “clean up”. Along with significantly narrowing its gender pay gap, Rockstar Games also implemented a far looser work schedule, largely cutting overtime hours.

The financial sustainability of 2013’s Grand Theft Auto V, particularly GTA Online, is largely responsible for the latter decisions viability. Without the need to release games on a frequent schedule, Rockstar is able to ease pressure on its workers and create a healthier work-life balance. However, the flip side is that fans are increasingly growing impatient for the release of GTA VI. In addition, the abundance of re-releases for previous games, such as putting GTA V on every console or the infamous glitch-fest that was the GTA Trilogy remastered collection, are leaving longtime fans frustrated.

Yet, according to over 20 anonymous Rockstar employees who Bloomberg interviewed, workplace morale is at an all-time high. In fact, one person even described Rockstar Games’ progressive shift as, “a boys’ club transformed into a real company”. However, with the company’s new socially cognizant approach to business, can we expect to see a reflection in GTA VI? The answer is definitely yes.

What can we expect in Grand Theft Auto VI?

Anonymous insiders across the gaming industry who are close to Rockstar all indicate that GTA VI will feel significantly more different than the previous installment. As the political climate within the United States grows more sensitive to social justice, Rockstar already implemented actions to reflect that nature. Examples within GTA V include the cancellation of the Cops ‘n’ Crooks mode after the George Floyd controversy in 2020 and the decision to remove transphobic jokes from the most recent console release.

Leaks surrounding the status of GTA VI also demonstrate that Rockstar plans to further its imitative to be more inclusive to marginalized groups. One stunning leak is that the new game will feature a Hispanic female protagonist for the first time ever in the series. The game’s story, said to have been inspired by real life bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde, will also refrain from including any jokes that could be sensitive to marginalized groups.

Apart from the new direction as it relates to social commentary, another major shift fans can expect from the new game is its overall scale. Although the developers shelved the original plan to include one large map that encompassed multiple territories within North and South America, players can still expect the largest GTA to date.

Leaks suggest that the new map will primarily focus on Vice City (a fictional take on Miami). However, the developers will update the game over time with new missions that see the player travel to different cities on a regular basis.

When could we see a new GTA?

However, given Rockstar’s push to cut back on stressful hours, paired with the large scope of the game, we’ll likely still a couple years away. Sources close to Rockstar state that while the game has been in some form of development since 2014, there remains no solid release window. Industry analysists further this point with a prediction that the game may launch sometime between April 2023 and March 2024.

What do you think about the new direction leaked for the next Grand Theft Auto? Do you think we’ll see GTA VI by 2024? As always, let us know what you think in the comments!

Via Bloomberg