GTA 6 devs admit they're nervous about living up to 13 years of hype
Rockstar Games is feeling the pressure as the release of Grand Theft Auto VI approaches. Per GameSpot, Rockstar North boss Rob Nelson told IGN the studio is "nervous" about delivering a game that lives up to over a decade of expectations.
"I try not to think about it," Nelson said. He explained the team's main focus is on innovating and evolving the series while keeping it familiar. He claimed the internal pressure the team puts on itself far outweighs any external hype.
Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two, emphasized its philosophy of prioritizing polish over speed. Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick stated the company "errs on the side of perfection" and will only ship the game when they feel it's creatively optimized, according to the report.
The game is scheduled to arrive on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles in late November. A separate financial report cited by GameSpot suggested pre-order revenue could cover the entire production budget before the game even launches.
In other GTA 6 details, Rockstar confirmed it cut a highly realistic feature during development. Nelson told Famitsu, via GamesRadar, that the studio initially prototyped a system where players could buy groceries and restock their fridge.
This feature was ultimately removed because it complicated the mechanics and disrupted the balance between realism and fun gameplay. However, another realistic detail is staying: players will need to refuel their vehicles at gas stations, a feature absent from the base version of GTA 5.
YouTuber TGG, who visited Rockstar, said refueling takes about ten seconds and isn't very expensive. Nelson reportedly acknowledged this new requirement might be divisive but said it adds a strategic layer, like ensuring your getaway car has gas before a heist.
