A new GTA 6 report has shed light on its story mode revealing details on the protagonist, the code name and more. Grand Theft Auto VI is the next instalment in the blockbuster franchise, reports Bloomberg. Typically Bloomberg’s gaming reports are credible and are coming from apparently Rockstar employees but as always nothing is 100% confirmed for the game until Rockstar Games publicly say it.
The protagonist revealed
In the new report with accounts from people close to Rockstar Games’ plans, the game will feature a playable female protagonist for the first time in the GTA series. The report also says “the woman, who is Latina, will be one of a pair of leading characters in a story influenced by the bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde.” This suggests we will be getting 2 characters we will switch to in the campaign. The 3 way story mode in GTA V was controversial. Many liked the new take on story mode but plenty of others preferred sticking to just one character. It will be interesting how this plays out. As for humour which has been highly speculated on, Rockstar’s developers also are said to be taking a more cautious approach when it comes to “making jokes about marginalized groups” a contrast to the previous GTA games. Back in 2018, Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser said he’s “thankful” to not be releasing GTA VI in the Trump era and “unclear what we’d even do“.
Next stop: Vice City
We’ve spent the better part of a decade in GTA V’s San Andreas but it will be time to move on. The codename for GTA 6 has also been revealed to be Project Americas. The report says Rockstar previously had plans for it to be larger than any of its previous games featuring large areas of North and South America. Now the scale has been cut back to focus on Vice City. The report says we will see the return of the fictional Miami setting and “surrounding areas”. Despite the reduction in scope, Rockstar will update the map on a regular basis over time with apparently new cities. It is also being reported this game will have more interior locations than any previous GTA game.
Troubled development but light at the end of the tunnel
The development of the game was also detailed in the report. The reason why progress on the game has been slow has largely been down to the pandemic. Another major reason is how the culture of Rockstar Games has changed. The company has made efforts to make working conditions better. With all this change, people in the report say they “wonder even what a Grand Theft Auto game looks like in today’s environment.” and are trying to figure out how to make games in this new era of Rockstar. We can only hope for the best and I’m sure the devs are doing the best job they can.
It is positive to hear things at Rockstar Game have improved because they should never, ever have been like it was. More change is needed throughout the games industry too. The studio has seen drastic change in working conditions due to abusive managers removed, contractors become full time and things like that. Management claim excessive overtime will not be needed got GTA VI. Let’s hope they stick to their word. This report says morale is at its highest point among Rockstar devs so hopefully this trend continues.
As for when the game will actually release, devs do not think it will make it in 2024 but also say there is no firm date in place but more than 2 years away from now. They even say they have little pressure to release the game. I see this as a “release it when its ready” view which is a good thing given how poor many game releases have been.
The cancelled GTA Online update
A few years ago it was revealed by reputable leaker in the community Tez, a Cops and Crooks mode to GTA Online had been cut. However the idea was still floating around Rockstar Games as an update for GTAO. That has since been cancelled according to Bloomberg’s sources. Titled Cops ‘n’ Crooks, players could play as both sides. The reason why this has never seen a release was due to real life police brutality and awareness in 2020 when police killed George Floyd. The report says management did not want to put it out as it would appear in poor taste. Sources also say there have been no plans to open up development on it for GTA Online.
Source: Bloomberg
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