Even the original creators of Grand Theft Auto have not played the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 ahead of its launch, according to a BBC News report.
After a 13-year wait, two delays, and several high-profile leaks, the next chapter in the nearly 30-year-old series approaches its release date. Developer Rockstar Games has kept the title tightly under wraps, leaving early architects of the franchise waiting alongside the public.
“We’re all waiting to see what they’ve done,” Dave Jones, GTA’s co-creator, told BBC News, sitting alongside the original game’s writer and publicist, Brian Baglow.
Baglow confirmed he has not played the new game ahead of launch, though he said that he has secured a pre-order.
Origins in Dundee
The original Grand Theft Auto released in 1997 in Dundee, Scotland, developed by a small team at DMA Design following their success with the puzzle game Lemmings, BBC News reported. Initially conceived as a racing game called Race’n’Chase, the studio wanted to introduce a unique gameplay mechanic.
“At DMA, we always wanted to do something different,” Jones said. “What was the unique spin we could put on it?”
That innovation involved stepping out of vehicles. The ability to drive, steal, and switch cars while running on foot created a novel combination of gameplay styles.
Playing the bad guy
The development team initially envisioned a game where players could choose to play as either a criminal or a police officer. Jones reconsidered the second option because it required players to behave strictly by the book.
“At some point we just said, you know what, it’s way more fun playing the bad guy, so that’s what the game was about,” Jones added, as reported by BBC News.
Initial sales proved to be a slow burn compared to Lemmings, requiring players to experience the title to understand it. Word of mouth ultimately drove sales throughout the year following its release.
Cultural phenomenon
When GTA V launched in 2013, it generated $1 billion in three days, establishing a record for entertainment products at the time. Guardian video games editor Keza MacDonald said that films are now influenced by the series rather than the other way around.
Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature protagonists Jason and Lucia, the series' first playable female character in its 3D games. Both PlayStation and Xbox have reported that the title has become the most pre-ordered game in their digital store histories.
“It means so much to so many people – it’s been fantastic,” Baglow told BBC News.
Questions about Grand Theft Auto 6 platforms and size
What platforms will Grand Theft Auto 6 initially release on?
The game is initially releasing on PlayStation and Xbox. Both platforms report the title has set records for digital pre-orders.
How large is the download file for Grand Theft Auto 6?
The game has a file size of 212GB. This large footprint has driven many players to pre-order and pre-load the title for immediate play at launch.
Who developed the original Grand Theft Auto in 1997?
The original game was developed in Dundee, Scotland, by DMA Design. Key figures involved included co-creator Dave Jones and writer-publicist Brian Baglow.
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