Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has confirmed that Rockstar Games has completed development on Grand Theft Auto VI, just over a week before its scheduled release on November 19.
During Take-Two's earnings call, Zelnick stated: 'Right now, Rockstar has completed the development of GTA 6. That may not come as a surprise to you, considering we're 10 days from the release.'
Development Finished and Marketing Underway
Zelnick added that Rockstar has 'done their very best work' and that the game 'is going to come to consumers soon.' He also noted that the marketing campaign is 'fully baked' and that the focus now is on delivering the product 'technically' with an 'A+ job.'
While Zelnick did not use the phrase, some observers have interpreted this as GTA 6 'going gold,' a term for when development of the base game is finished and ready for manufacturing. However, since GTA 6 is not being released on disc, the term is considered archaic in this context, though it does indicate the launch build is ready.
What Comes Next for Rockstar
Zelnick's comments about 'what comes next' likely refer to the online portion of GTA 6, which has not been officially announced but is expected following the success of GTA Online. A PC version is also rumoured for early next year.
Alternatively, the comments could allude to a successor to GTA 6. In October, Rockstar confirmed its next project should not take another eight years to make, citing the engine, tools, and team built during GTA 6's development. The studio's last game was 2018's Red Dead Redemption 2.
Speaking to IGN, Zelnick suggested Rockstar's output will be faster over the next decade. 'We do think that the nature and velocity of the content we'll see from our iconic franchises, including GTA, will look dramatically different over the next decade,' he said, citing a commitment to 'releasing the highest quality entertainment' and 'maintaining engagement with our consumers post-launch.'
Rockstar has not confirmed its next project, but rumours suggest it could be a sequel to L.A. Noire or an expansion to GTA 6.
Pre-Orders Exceed Expectations
Elsewhere in the earnings call, Zelnick said pre-orders are 'running far in excess of our expectations.' He previously described the volume across PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S as 'unprecedented' and 'astonishing.'
Speaking to Variety ahead of the earnings call, Zelnick added: 'That's a good thing. That said, we never claim success before it occurs. So we're just days away from beginning to see the fruits of our labour.'
Last week, estimates put GTA 6 pre-orders at almost eight million copies, a notable figure given that typically only hardcore players pre-order digital games.
The game's predecessor continues to sell well 13 years after its release. GTA 5 has now surpassed 235 million copies sold, with another five million copies shifted within the last three months.
