Summary
- GTA 6 entered early dev between 2014–2015, with full production starting 2018–2019 post-RDR2.
- In 2020, Bloomberg confirmed active development was underway.
- Rockstar officially acknowledged GTA 6 in 2022 after a major leak revealed test footage.
- The leak confirmed Lucia as a main character and Vice City’s return.
- Internal shifts at Rockstar in 2021 aimed to support a healthier dev cycle.
- Despite rumors of reboots, core vision stayed intact through the years.
The anticipation around Grand Theft Auto VI has been building for years, and one of the most common questions fans ask is: when did GTA 6 start development? While Rockstar Games has not provided a single official start date, industry reports, leaks, and insider comments paint a fairly clear timeline of how long the game has been in the works.
Early Planning Stages (2014–2015)
Discussions about GTA 6 reportedly began shortly after the success of GTA 5 and GTA Online. By 2014–2015, Rockstar’s leadership was already considering the future of the franchise. These early years were more about conceptualization than coding – debating settings, potential characters, and technological direction.
Pre-Production and Concept Work (2015–2018)
Rockstar is known for long pre-production phases and GTA 6 was no different. During this time, developers were believed to be creating design documents, outlining story beats, and testing different locations. It’s also when leaks suggest that Vice City, or a modern-day reimagining of it, was chosen as the main setting.
Active Development Begins (2018–2019)
Multiple sources indicate that active development of GTA 6 kicked off between 2018 and 2019. Rockstar shifted more staff onto the project after finishing work on Red Dead Redemption 2, which released in late 2018. By this stage, GTA 6 was more than just an idea, it was moving into real production with engine work, world-building, and early gameplay systems.
Confirmations and Leaks (2020–2022)
In 2020, Jason Schreier of Bloomberg reported that GTA 6 was in “early development.” A year later, rumors of large-scale production began to surface, and in 2022, Rockstar officially confirmed the game was in active development. That same year, a massive leak of early test footage hit the internet, showing work-in-progress gameplay, characters and mechanics – further confirming that GTA 6 had been in development for several years.
Full Production and Official Reveal (2023–2024)
By 2023, Rockstar was fully committed to GTA 6. The first official trailer released in December 2023, confirming Vice City as the main location and introducing the dual protagonists Lucia and Jason. With a release date set for May 2026, GTA 6 is now in the final stages of development, focusing on polish, optimization, and content completion.
So, When Did GTA 6 Start Development?
While Rockstar hasn’t stated a specific year, the best evidence suggests GTA 6 began early conceptual work around 2014–2015, with active development starting in 2018–2019 after Red Dead Redemption 2 was completed. That means by the time it launches in 2026, GTA 6 will have been in development for at least 7–8 years, making it one of Rockstar’s most ambitious projects ever.
The long development timeline for GTA 6 reflects Rockstar’s commitment to creating massive, detailed worlds with groundbreaking gameplay. While the wait has been lengthy, history shows that Rockstar’s extra time usually results in iconic, genre-defining releases.
