Grand Theft Auto VI is coming this yr, and it is anticipated to be an enormous success with 40 million gross sales and $3 billion in income in its first yr. Its launch looms so massive that some publishers are apparently contemplating delaying their video games to keep away from a conflict.
Three nameless “main” online game publishers instructed The Game Business that they’re “prepared” to delay upcoming tasks as a result of GTA 6. The report did not say what these firms are, however an nameless boss of “one of many world’s greatest sport publishers” instructed TGB that Rockstar’s releases “all the time suck some huge cash, and extra importantly, day trip of the market.”
“We do not wish to be anyplace close to that. We’re working up a number of completely different plans for our titles,” the nameless government stated. One other unnamed senior government at a writer stated even with out GTA 6 coming to market, it is grow to be “immensely troublesome to search out free time for brand spanking new video games to shine. Time is the true shortage for us, not cash. It is powerful on the market.”
Two nameless builders of “prime 10 stay-service video games” instructed TBG that they don’t seem to be planning any main updates to their titles across the time of GTA 6’s launch.
One unnamed studio boss instructed TGB that GTA 6 is “mainly an enormous meteor and we’ll simply keep away from the blast zone.” A special developer stated there’s “no level” in attempting to compete with GTA 6 and it is perhaps smarter to “put together to win gamers again as soon as the thrill has began to die down.”
GTA 6 is formally set for launch in Fall 2025 on PS5 and Xbox Sequence X|S, however each Rockstar Games launch going again a decade has been delayed, so it might be notable if GTA 6 is not (*6*)delayed. Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has acknowledged that GTA 6 could possibly be delayed.
Publishers being cautious of launching close to GTA 6 is just not a brand new concern. On the finish of 2024, it was reported that many publishers have been ready to assign launch dates to their very own titles till Rockstar confirmed a date for GTA 6. Extra lately, an analyst stated some firms won’t survive if they do not correctly plan their launch timings round GTA 6.
GTA 6 coming to market may additionally assist elevate the general online game business, as a sport of that magnitude is anticipated to attract in new or lapsed gamers. Ubisoft, for its half, stated it sees its personal sport gross sales develop when an enormous sport like a brand new entry within the GTA collection comes out.
In associated information, Greg Rice of Day of the Devs and PlayStation lately stated there’s a worry that GTA 6 is “sucking all of the area out” of the business, however this won’t inform the entire story.
GTA 6 is the primary new entry in important collection since 2013’s GTA V. That sport has loved monumental success, promoting greater than 200 million copies and producing numerous extra income from GTA On-line.