"Grand Theft Auto V" launched as far back as 2013, and fans of the franchise have been waiting for a proper sequel in the years that followed. However, new rumors suggest that Rockstar Games is going to delay "Grand Theft Auto VI" as late as 2020 in order to implement better VR support.
According to a report from Game N Guide, Rockstar Games and publisher Take-Two Interactive are not aiming to work and release "GTA 6" until the end of the decade. This would be after VR technology has been improved and a few years after the launch of "Red Dead Redemption 2," which they will release in Fall 2017.
VR technology is still in its infancy for modern gaming, with only a few AAA games on the PS4 and PC truly taking hold of this gameplay system. "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard" is one of the first major titles to take full use Playstation VR, and it is set to roll out in January 2017. For the most part, however, VR is mostly just being used for gimmick indie games and mobile games.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick also stated during the MKM Partners event (via Gamespot) that they were not the kind of company to release games on an annual basis. Some franchises like "Call of Duty" and "Assassin's Creed" are known for releasing a new game every year.
"It would imply doubling our development teams. It would imply calling into question our quality. And it would imply the risk that consumers tire of these franchises. One of the things that's best about Take-Two is our franchises seem to be permanent. They're beloved and permanent," he explained.
Zelnick further stated that their competitors that release new games every year tend to burn out and their audiences would get tired. The only solution is to create a new IP all together and that is stated to be a very difficult task to accomplish.
These statements imply that the next "Grand Theft Auto" game won't be coming out for some time, and this further indicates that the 2020 release date may be true. Rockstar and Take-Two have yet to officially comment on these rumors.
