Summary
An Xbox executive reveals that the company plans to make way forGrand Theft Auto 6’s 2025 launch when considering the release dates for the console manufacturer’s upcoming first-party titles. Though Rockstar Games' next blockbuster hit is still more than a year away from release, anticipation for the game is still evidently high. After all, when even a major publishing juggernaut like Microsoft is working its way aroundGrand Theft Auto 6, there’s little reason left to doubt that the upcoming open-world game will be a monumental release.
Microsoft just held its annual Xbox Games Showcase a few weeks ago, and reception to the presentation was incredibly positive across the board. Many great-lookingGame Pass games were revealed at the showcase, including Playground Games' stunningFablereboot, The Coalition’s newGears of Warprequel, and id Software’s medievalDoomgame, among several others. If there was one criticism that some had about the presentation, though, it was the lack of release dates provided for most of the titles at the event. Games likeFableandSouth of Midnightwere only given vague 2025 launch windows, while titles likePerfect DarkandState of Decay 3didn’t even have years attached to them at all. This was rather strange, considering how long many of these games have been in development.
Xbox game content and studios president Matt Booty provided an explanation for the lack of release windows at the Xbox showcasein an interview with Varietyduring an episode of the outlet’s “Strictly Business” podcast. To put it simply, Booty citedGTA 6as a factor in Microsoft’s refusal to pin a date on any of the company’supcoming Xbox gamesslated for 2025 and beyond. “I think many across the industry are of course going to plan aroundGTA 6, and we’re all looking forward to that game, which should be amazing,” said Booty.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Could Overshadow Most of the Games Releasing Around It
The Xbox executive then noted that his company needs to “keep options open” when it comes to launching games, as “everybody in the industry wants to make sure that [they] don’t land in the shadow of someone else’s big release.” According to Booty, Microsoft is tasked with the challenge of ensuring that all of its first-party games are given both ample space and “an opportunity to shine.” It’s understandable, then, that the console manufacturer was hesitant in dating the releases it has scheduled for 2025 at theincredible Xbox Games Showcase, asGrand Theft Auto 6will likely overshadow other titles launching around it.
Although Take-Two recently provided a fall 2025release window forGTA, it’s unknown when exactly Rockstar Games' next big title will launch. Judging from Matt Booty’s statements, though, it’s safe to say that upcoming Xbox first-party games likeFableandSouth of Midnightwill not come out within close proximity ofGrand Theft Auto 6’s release, whenever that may be.
Grand Theft Auto 6
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Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
