GTA 6 needs to be "the best it can possibly be" says Rockstar

GTA Online Independence Day 2022
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Grand Theft Auto 6 needs to "exceed players’ expectations," according to Rockstar.

Late last week, the studio announced it would be ending ongoing development for Red Dead Online, as its shifts resources to developing GTA 6. It went overlooked at the time, but as Push Square first reported, Rockstar makes a brief mention of its hotly-anticipated game when writing about Red Dead Online.

"Over the past few years, we have been steadily moving more development resources towards the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series," the blog post on Rockstar Newswire reads. "Understanding more than ever the need to exceed players’ expectations and for this next entry to be the best it can possibly be," the post continues.

This is the only time Rockstar has commented on the new game in the GTA series since it was first announced earlier this year. At the time, Rockstar actually announced the new game in a similar fashion, sneaking it into a Rockstar Newswire post about ongoing developments in GTA Online. 

Apparently, Red Dead Online isn't the only victim of Rockstar's new drive to focus entirely on GTA 6. Last week, a report claimed that both a Red Dead Redemption remaster and a GTA 4 remaster had been shelved so the company could focus on making GTA 6. This was a follow-up report on a previous claim that Rockstar had scrapped both projects after the poor critical reception of 2021's GTA Remastered Trilogy

With GTA 6 in active development, could the end be in sight for GTA Online?

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
Three playable characters stand in a triangle wearing suits and holding guns in GTA 5
GTA 5 is "the standard-bearer for the industry over three generations," but GTA 6 publisher's CEO isn't taking that for granted: "We don't claim success until it occurs"
GTA 6 trailer screenshots
GTA 6 will be "worth waiting for" says CEO of Rockstar owner, who teases that "we really focus on presenting something to the audience that they just haven't seen before"
A screenshot of protagonist Lucia from GTA 6
GTA 6 is "definitely gonna be a big economic boost for the games industry" that'll help "bring a lot more people back into the ecosystem," says Day of the Devs' lead curator
GTA 6 trailer screenshots
"Rockstar Games seeks perfection in everything they do": Take-Two boss is confident in GTA 6, but "our competitors are not asleep"
GTA 6 trailer screenshots
Former GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 animator says GTA 6 is likely playable "all the way through" right now
GTA 6: A man and a woman sitting on a car in the poster for Grand Theft Auto 6.
GTA 6: Everything we know so far
Latest in Action
Bayonetta 3 screenshot showing bayonetta looking at a gun
As Assassin's Creed Shadows passes 2 million players, Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya reveals "I felt bad that it was being criticized so much"
Assassin's Creed Shadows Mitsumune and Naoe
How to find Mitsumune in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Amid Assassin's Creed Shadows' controversies, shrine popularized by Ghost of Tsushima bans all tourists after "unforgivable act of disrespect"
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe facing off against samurai warrior on red bridge
Does Assassin’s Creed Shadows have New Game Plus?
GTA 6 trailer screenshots
Weeks after modding GTA 6's map to GTA 5, modder pre-emptively pulls all their work offline after a single YouTube strike from Rockstar's owner
Assassin's Creed Shadows
As Assassin's Creed Shadows overtakes Valhalla and Odyssey, Ubisoft promises "this is just the beginning" in heartfelt thanks to players
Latest in News
The Death Star in the Andor season 2 trailer
New Andor season 2 trailer is an intense new look at the returning Star Wars show that sees the Rebels discover the Death Star
Severance
Severance star reveals the one finale moment that you may not have realized is "essential" for what comes next in season 3
Adolescence
After it landed 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, Hideo Kojima has also given his verdict on everyone's new Netflix obsession Adolescence
Palworld screenshot showing a green dinosaur-like creature with a red mushroom cap atop its head sitting in a wooden hot tub
Palworld isn't coming to the Switch as the open-world survival hit is a "beefy game," but Pocketpair says Switch 2 is "100% worth considering"
Bayonetta 3 screenshot showing bayonetta looking at a gun
As Assassin's Creed Shadows passes 2 million players, Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya reveals "I felt bad that it was being criticized so much"
Bloodborne
It's Bloodborne's 10th anniversary, and FromSoftware is celebrating with an Elden Ring patch that "does not contain any game related changes"