By Chris Penwell
Grand Theft Auto 6 has been a long-awaited game for many, but for a few reasons, I really couldn’t give a damn. And its existence genuinely frustrates me.
Rockstar used to be an interesting developer/publisher
Rockstar Games used to be a varied studio, working on all manner of projects from Midnight Club to L.A. Noire, even table tennis. With how monstrously big GTA 6 is likely going to be, it’s taken up all of the British studio’s time and money. Fans of its other properties like Bully and Max Payne are left out in the cold too. Thankfully, Control developer Remedy is working on a remake for the latter.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is a bad influence on the industry
But what annoys me most is what impact it will have on the industry. Studios are spending way too much cash on grander, bigger-scale games. Development budgets have ballooned over the last decade, while release schedules have slowed dramatically for the biggest studios.
For example, Naughty Dog released multiple major titles during the PS3 era, yet the PS5 generation has produced just remasters of The Last of Us. There’s only one original title coming up, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and it’s not even out yet.
Instead of making massive titles, the scope for the triple-A space should decrease. What we need are focused, more linear titles. Not everything has to be a damn open world.
It makes me feel uncomfortable (but that might be the point)
There is also the cultural change that Grand Theft Auto 6 will bring. I’m uncomfortable that gaming’s biggest cultural phenomenon revolves around crime and antiheroes when so many other genres, character-types, and themes deserve similar attention.
I get that it’s a commentary on what’s going on in today’s world, but it feels like a poor reflection of what gaming can provide.
Too much competition in September and October
Additionally, Grand Theft Auto 6 causes the industry to freeze for months. There are next to no releases close to Grand Theft Auto 6. After the Summer Game Fest announcements, September and October are packed with titles. The competition is fierce.
Take Rayman Legends: Retold. It launches in October, and if it doesn’t sell well, it reportedly means we won’t be getting a new entry in the series (according to noarmsnolegs via TheGamer) . I’ve wanted Rayman 4, and if Grand Theft Auto 6 causes this game to sell poorly because of the immense competition in October, I will never forgive Rockstar Games.
Indies will feel the pinch. Many of them are not even mentioned in release compilations on websites like Game Informer. It will be difficult to get enough traction. Big studios can wait until next year, but some indies can’t due to needing income.
I’m simply just not a fan
Lastly, I just don’t like to play Grand Theft Auto games. In the past, they usually controlled terribly while driving or even running, had poor shooting mechanics, and genuinely felt like a chore to complete missions at times. There’s only so many times I can drive around a bland city before I get bored.
And again, I can’t relate to the criminals that you play as in these titles. I’d much prefer playing a cosy RPG, platformer, or indie game.
Like Michael in GTA 5, I’ll be giving the middle finger to Grand Theft Auto 6 when it releases this November. It represents an industry increasingly built around a handful of enormous blockbusters while smaller, riskier, and more varied projects struggle for attention or even get made by bigger triple-A publishers like they used to be. Take a look at PlayStation’s safe lineup.
I will pay attention to the indies that deserve it if they boldly release in November.
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