GTA 6 has even a recent enemy of Rockstar Games excited to check it out. The former president of Rockstar North Leslie Benzies has spoken out about the GTA series and Rockstar Games after a period of legal battles. This rare statement offers an insight from a man who had substantial involvement in the games we all know and love.
Rockstar Legacy
For those unaware, Leslie Benzies is credited as a producer and/or designer on many Rockstar Games titles from all of the GTA games from III through V, the Manhunt games, Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire and Max Payne 3. Specifically in Red Dead Redemption’s case he was able to turn about the game’s development hell.
“This is a nightmare. But one i/we need to get out of. I have problems with the camera all over the place. So much so, that I can’t be rational or specific about it. The darkness!!!”
“PLEASE help me/us get rdr into shape. I am a jabbering wreck right now,” he added. “I need The Benz!'” – Sam Houser’s emails to Leslie Benzies via GameSpot
However, after taking a sabbatical following the launch of GTA V and GTA Online, Benzies found he had been fired as Rockstar North’s president when he tried to enter the office on his return to work. This had him launch a legal battle against Take-Two Interactive for unpaid royalties after the monumental success of GTA V. The parties settled out of court after a few years of battle in the legal system.
Recent Times
Since then, Benzies has continued to lead a life away from the limelight and has created his own gaming studio, Build A Rocket Boy. They’re set to release MindsEye, a single-player action game in June. Though he did make an appearance last week at the BAFTA Game Awards to present Best Game for 2024.
At this event he was interviewed on the red carpet by Gaming Bible (spotted by EverywhereNET and shared by @videotechuk_). When asked by the publication if he’s excited for GTA VI, Benzies had a nice response. He said that he is “Absolutely” looking forward to it and that there are a “great amount of geniuses there always creating something new, unique and of a scale that very few others can actually pull off.”
Given the highly public falling out with the Housers and his former employer, this is a very rare statement and an interesting one to read. Many of the old school team from the early GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas days are still at the company, Leslie will know that core group almost better than anyone. Many fans are curious what GTA VI will look like given the lack of assistance from Leslie Benzies.
Following Leslie Benzies’ departure, many other veterans of Rockstar have excited including Dan Houser himself. In the post-Rockstar years, he and some of his former colleagues have started a new company and begun work on a new open-world game.
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