GTA 6 Development Started in 2015, Says Rockstar North Co-Studio Head

According to Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson, work on Grand Theft Auto 6 officially began in 2015. Nelson discussed the long development cycles with Trois Couleurs, noting that the game's ideas have been gestating for a significant period. While development kicked off in 2015, the majority of the team ramped up their efforts after the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018. Prior claims and reports had suggested various timelines, with rumors in 2021 indicating a reboot in 2020, former environment artist David O'Reilly claiming work began in 2018, and Take-Two Interactive stating full production started in 2020.

Nelson also shed light on the creative challenges of such a lengthy production cycle, particularly when addressing social movements, major events, and memes that risk becoming outdated by the time a game is written, cast, shot, and implemented. The development team carefully selects topics that align with their story and world-building goals. Set in a modern Vice City based on Miami and Florida, the title features distinct lifestyles and fashion, supported by entirely new developer tools crafted to capture the diversity of Leonida.

Players can expect a massive experience. Nelson noted that finishing the game required at least 80 hours based on his playthrough, while the open world is estimated to be three times larger than the playable space in Red Dead Redemption 2. Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19th for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms, with a price tag of $79.99.