--- ---  # New _Grand Theft Auto_ Trailer Drops, 10 Years After Last Installment in Video Game Franchise. Here’s What to Know  by [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Reporter Dec 5, 2023 9:30 AM UTC  Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI trailer plays on a phone screen in front of the game title. Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI trailer plays on a phone screen in front of the game title.Chris Delmas—AFP/Getty Images  by [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Reporter Dec 5, 2023 9:30 AM UTC Rockstar Games dropped the trailer for _Grand Theft Auto_ _VI,_ the forthcoming latest installment in the popular video game franchise, on Monday—more than a decade since the release of _Grand Theft Auto V_. The unrated 90-second video, which was released a day before it was scheduled after a leak on X (Twitter), confirms many details that players have been speculating about for years—and appears to be nothing short of a wild ride. A sparsely-worded [press release](https://www.take2games.com/ir/news/rockstar-games-announces-grand-theft-auto-vi-coming-2025) from gamemaker Rockstar announced: “_Grand Theft Auto VI_ heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City,” the Miami-inspired setting for the fourth main entry of the franchise known for its over-the-top depictions of sex, drugs, shootings, and gangs. _Grand Theft Auto VI_, which is due to be released in 2025, seems poised for success, especially after its predecessor became [the third-best-selling video game in history](https://sea.ign.com/grand-theft-auto-v/192289/news/the-10-best-selling-video-games-of-all-time) after Minecraft and Tetris. But it also comes amid heightened political polarization and increasing cultural scrutiny in America. Bloomberg games journalist Jason Schreier [reported in 2022](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-27/gta-6-release-date-rockstar-cleans-up-image-after-employee-backlash) that Rockstar has deliberately taken on a more politically-sensitive tack in recent years, a shift that worried some players about a potential change in tone dampening the _Grand Theft Auto_ experience. Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games, nonetheless appears hopeful. “We’re thrilled to be able to share this new vision with players everywhere,” he said in a [statement](https://www.take2games.com/ir/news/rockstar-games-announces-grand-theft-auto-vi-coming-2025). Here’s a breakdown of what to know about the franchise’s enduring legacy and its next installment. ## **What is** **_Grand Theft Auto_** **?** The _Grand Theft Auto_ franchise, named after the criminal offense, is a series of open-world, action-adventure games developed by what is now known as Rockstar North, a game development studio based in Scotland that was acquired by the U.S.-based Rockstar Games in 1999\. _Grand Theft Auto_’s gameplay has evolved over the years from a top-down shooting and driving spree into an immersive, cinematically-styled gaming experience. As opposed to level-structured games, open-world games like _Grand Theft Auto_ allow players to choose their own missions non-linearly. In _Grand Theft Auto,_ the protagonist is often on the run from police, taking cars and shooting other characters across locales. The games are also situated in cities inspired by real U.S. places: Vice City is based on Miami, Fla., while [Liberty City references New York](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/nyregion/thecity/04gran.html). As early as its first release in 1997, _Grand Theft Auto_ has become a source of moral paranoia for [politicians](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1997/may/20/grand-theft-auto-computer-game) and the public, with a common critique being that the games promote [violence](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/03/australian-store-bans-grand-theft-auto-5-violence-against-women). The game is also notorious for its [negative depiction and treatment of women](https://www.sportskeeda.com/gta/playing-gta-5-girl-sexism-objectification-lack-inclusion). Some view the franchise as [satire that pokes fun at U.S. tropes](https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230505-grand-theft-auto-iv-blockbuster-game-dared-political). Michael Kasumovic, an associate professor from the University of New South Wales Sydney who has written about _Grand Theft Auto_, says the title is “a wonderful example of an open-world game where people can experiment and experience and interact with one another.” As for its potential for harm, Kasumovic qualifies that in-game violence in _Grand Theft Auto_ has been found not to necessarily translate in real life, even among children: “I think what it does allow a lot of kids and younger kids to do in these games is to explore, try things that they cannot do in the real world, and to see those consequences.” ## **How valuable is** **_Grand Theft Auto_** **?** Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two Interactive Software, said the entire franchise has sold 410 million copies to date. (Tetris, for reference, has sold over [520 million game units](https://tetris.com/by-the-numbers) worldwide.) According to Take-Two, the latest entry into the franchise, _Grand Theft Auto V_, reached $1 billion in retail sales “faster than any entertainment release in history.” ## Why has there been such a long wait for _GTA_ _VI_? It was only in [February 2022](https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/ak73k92o47ko75/grand-theft-auto-community-update) that Rockstar confirmed the follow-up game to _Grand Theft Auto V._ “With every new project we embark on, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we have previously delivered—and we are pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the _Grand Theft Auto_ series is well underway,” the company said then. Speaking to Sky News Australia, Bloomberg’s Schreier cites [several reasons for the long wait](https://news.sky.com/story/gta-v-turns-10-the-impact-and-legacy-of-rockstars-biggest-game-and-why-sequel-is-taking-so-long-12935879): the wide scope of the in-game world would take more time and manpower to develop, previous games in the franchise continue to sell well, and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed production across the entire gaming industry. ## What are players expecting from _Grand Theft Auto VI_? For the first time, the game will feature a playable female protagonist. Earlier reports say the game will introduce a duo a la bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde, with the female lead being a Latina. From the trailer, it appears that the story involves Lucia, who starts off in prison. She pairs off with a yet-to-be-named male character in her quests. _Grand Theft Auto VI_ also comes with the latest state-of-the art graphics, in line with games that have veered towards more cinematic styles like _The Last of Us II_ and _God of War_: _Ragnarok_. Houser, in his statement, says “_Grand Theft Auto VI_ continues our efforts to push the limits of what’s possible in highly immersive, story-driven open-world experiences.” ## Why did the trailer come out earlier than expected? Rockstar announced that a trailer for the hotly anticipated game would come out at 9 a.m. ET on Dec. 5\. However, a leaked version was shared on X the day before. The leaked video was quickly taken down, and Rockstar uploaded its own trailer on YouTube. With such a high level of anticipation from fans, the new installment of _Grand Theft Auto_ has been prone to leaks. One earlier leak displayed early in-game footage, which forced Rockstar to admit that it had a “[network intrusion](https://twitter.com/RockstarGames/status/1571849091860029455?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1571849091860029455%7Ctwgr%5Ed08388a58d881d13cb040dff021339d47726c990%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ign.com%2Farticles%2Fgta-6-everything-we-know-news-leaks-and-pre-trailer-intel).” ## When is _Grand Theft Auto VI_ going to be released? Take-Two says _Grand Theft Auto VI_ is coming to the next-generation consoles, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, in 2025\. No specific date has been given yet. 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