Summary

  • Grand Theft Auto 6 has been in development since 2018, after the release of Red Dead Redemption 2.
  • The gap between GTA 5 and GTA 6 will be almost 13 years, longer than previous installments.
  • Gamers are eager to learn more about Grand Theft Auto 6, especially regarding its lengthy development process.

A former Rockstar Games artist has revealed how long the studio has been working on Grand Theft Auto 6. With its release currently set for May 2026, gamers are naturally curious about how long Grand Theft Auto 6 has been in the works.

By the time Grand Theft Auto 6 releases next year, it will have been almost 13 years since the launch of GTA 5. With this in mind, it's no big surprise that gamers want to know everything they can about Grand Theft Auto 6. After all, the gap between the fourth and fifth games in the series was only five years, even with the original Red Dead Redemption in between.

GTA6 Mount Kalaga RDR2 Relaxing Activities
Grand Theft Auto 6's Mount Kalaga Looks Like Paradise For Fans of Red Dead 2's Most Relaxing Activities

Rockstar Games' upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 region, Mount Kalaga, could be perfect for Red Dead Redemption 2 fans looking for outdoor activities.

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As reported by The Gamer, former Rockstar Games artist David O'Reilly has released a video on YouTube under the name Game World Art reacting to screenshots from Grand Theft Auto 6's Trailer 2, revealing how long it has been in development in the process, stating, "I worked on GTA 6 from 2018 to 2023. Went onto it after we wrapped up on RDR2. It's fascinating having a look at all this stuff."

Grand Theft Auto 6 Has Been in Development Since 2018

O'Reilly's quote implies that the game started development in the immediate aftermath of Red Dead Redemption 2's successful release back in 2018, meaning that by the time Grand Theft Auto 6 launches in May 2026, it will have been in the works for a massive eight years. While it's no secret that modern game development is longer than ever before due to the sheer scale of some projects, it's somewhat surprising that Grand Theft Auto 6 seemingly wasn't in active development before this, given the enormous success of its predecessor, even despite the sheer amount of resources a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 would require.

With Grand Theft Auto 6's Trailer 2 setting new records for online viewership, hopefully the marketing campaign for the game will enter full swing now. There are 12 months between now and its current release date, leaving plenty of time for Rockstar to reveal even more details about the game in any way it sees fit. At least the 17-month gap between Trailers 1 and 2 certainly won't be repeated.

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Grand Theft Auto 6
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Action
Adventure
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Released
November 19, 2026
ESRB
Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+
Developer(s)
Rockstar Games
Publisher(s)
Rockstar Games
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Engine
Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure