How Long Has GTA 6 Been in Development?

GTA 6 is arguably one of the most ambitious games Rockstar Games has ever worked on, and this is how long they worked on it.

GTA 6 Characters [Source: Rockstar Games]
Developing a game like GTA 6 requires a great deal of effort to complete. (Image via Rockstar Games)

GTA 6 had a 12-year development phase, and the second trailer just sent fans into a frenzy. Fans have been waiting for this day, and Rockstar Games dropped it out of nowhere. The trailer speaks for itself and shows years of hard work coming to fruition. Game development can take a toll, and the developers took their sweet time with this project.

This game has been on everyone’s radar since the last major entry, but the developers were tight-lipped about it. Rockstar Games always kept pushing the bar, and this upcoming game is something truly special.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer’s subjective views about the game. Some aspects of this article are also speculative.

GTA 6 Has Been in the Works for Quite a While

Jason Duval in GTA 6.
A game of this magnitude requires years and money to complete (Image via Rockstar Games)

Plans for GTA 6 were made after GTA 5 was shipped, and principal development began after Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018. The graphical leap in the last two games is a testament to the developers’ talent in creating a realistic and immersive sandbox.

Even before Rockstar Games acknowledged the existence of GTA 6, it was always a matter of when and not if. This franchise has been a staple for the video game industry, and the developers have nowhere to go but up. The last game had a 5-year development phase, but the developers took it to the next level.

The developers planned everything while developing Red Dead Redemption 2 and went into full production shortly after its release. This project has been in development for more than a decade, and the trailers gave fans a glimpse of what the final product will look like.

Rockstar Games Is Banking Hard on This Project

Years of hard work won't fall into the drain that easily (Image via Rockstar Games)
Years of hard work won’t fall into the drain that easily (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar Games established a reputation after releasing exceptional open-world games, and this project has plenty to live up to. GTA 5 was groundbreaking at the time in 2013, and Red Dead Redemption 2 was on a different level. It would make sense for the developers to take their time to outdo their previous projects and give fans the game they deserve.

Looking back at the early stages, GTA 6 had a 12-year development phase. This is the longest project Rockstar Games has in development, and the trailers speak volumes about what fans can expect. The cost of game development continues to skyrocket, and players are in for a treat in 2026.


GTA 6 Logo [Source: Rockstar Games]

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