GTA 6 was originally Project Americas and covered “big swaths” of country’s north and south, Rockstar reveals, in interview tackling crunch, delays, and leaks
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Rockstar Games disclosed that Grand Theft Auto VI began under the codename “Project Americas,” originally intended to span vast territories across both North and South America before being narrowed to Miami and its environs. The concept was conceived in 2015 during a research trip led by Rockstar North studio head Rob Nelson, and was initially slated to develop alongside Red Dead Redemption 2. After Red Dead 2’s expansion, the GTA VI project was delayed, and the studio’s workforce more than doubled to 4,711 employees. Co‑founder Dan Houser’s 2023 departure prompted internal promotions, while the COVID‑19 pandemic and a 2022 Slack phishing breach further slowed progress. Crunch practices were reportedly reformed, yet a Scottish tribunal over mass firings continues. The game’s release has been pushed from an early 2025 target to May 2026.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The shift from a continent‑spanning sandbox to a city‑focused map reflects how escalating scope and internal turmoil can reshape flagship titles, directly influencing player expectations and the franchise’s future direction.
