GTA VI arrives in November: 5 reasons that explain so much expectation

Rockstar Games has not yet announced a computer version. In stores, the edition presented as physical will not include a disc: the box will only have a code to download the game. The product will begin shipping on November 12th, allowing for early installation before its debut.

But what made “GTA VI” such a highly anticipated release? The return to a classic setting, the technical evolution promised by Rockstar and the long gap since the previous chapter are among the main reasons.

1. GTA VI marks the return to Vice City

The story will be set in the fictional state of Leonida, where Vice City, a city inspired by Miami, is located. The location first appeared as the main setting in “GTA: Vice City”, released in 2002.

The city was also in “GTA: Vice City Stories”, from 2006, but it had not received an unprecedented large-scale production for two decades. The new version will have beaches, urban areas, roads, swampy regions and other environments inspired by Florida.

2. Rockstar promises its biggest open world

Rockstar describes “GTA VI” as the biggest and most immersive evolution of the series. The expectation is that the game will expand the level of detail seen in “GTA V” and “Red Dead Redemption 2”, titles known for dynamic environments, secondary characters and situations that change according to the player's actions.

The videos and images released so far show busy streets, crowded beaches, animals, nightclubs, fictitious social networks and different regions of the state of Leonida.

3. Lucia and Jason will be the protagonists

The plot will follow Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval, a couple involved in crimes and persecutions. Lucia will be the first woman to occupy the role of a playable protagonist in a main title in the three-dimensional phase of the franchise.

Rockstar still preserves much of the story, but promotional material indicates that the two will need to work together after a scam goes wrong.

The relationship between the characters can give the plot a different tone from previous games, which generally followed criminals driven by ambition, revenge or social mobility.

4. Vice City should expand the satire of modern life

The “GTA” franchise is known for satirizing politics, consumption, television, advertising and social behavior. In “GTA VI”, social networks seem to occupy a central space in this representation.

The trailers show vertical videos, live broadcasts, influencers and situations inspired by unusual events recorded in Florida.

The combination of crime, digital culture and permanent exposure can serve as a basis for the humor and social criticism of the new game.

5. Players waited 13 years for a new GTA

“GTA V” arrived on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in September 2013. When “GTA VI” is released, more than 13 years will have passed between the two main chapters.

During this period, “GTA V” gained versions for two other generations of consoles, while the “GTA Online” mode received constant updates.

Rockstar also released “Red Dead Redemption 2” in 2018, but did not present another new game in the “Grand Theft Auto” series. The break increased expectations about the size, technology and possibilities of the new production.

GTA VI will have pre-loading before launch

Anyone who pre-orders the digital version will be able to start downloading on November 12th. The same date will be used to ship boxes with activation codes, allowing buyers to install the content before the official release.

“GTA VI” will be released on November 19th for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar has not confirmed when or if the game will come to computers.