Grand Theft Auto 6 is still at least another nine months away but gamers are aching to know every detail they can – and there hasn’t been a shortage of leaks, rumours and theories.
One report says GTA 6could be delayed to 2026 as a fallback option with Fall 2025 now being targeted by employees at Rockstar.
That’s after reports suggested development falling behind is the reason why the majority of employees have been called back to the office full-time but it’s led to a backlash from some workers.
Since Rockstar posted the trailer for GTA 6 in early December, after it was leaked online, social media has been a hotbed for theories about when exactly the game will be released, when further details such as trailers will be announced, what will be in the game itself and loads more.
It’s no surprise really given that Grand Theft Auto 5 was widely recognised as the best game of the last decade – it came out in 2013 and is still popular with gamers today as Rockstar continues to release GTA Online updates.
Below is a roundup of some of the most recent leaks, rumours and theories, and this will continue to be updated, so keep checking back for the latest.
Four months since trailer
It’s four months to the day since the first trailer for GTA 6 was released.
Rockstar planned to share it on December 5 2023 but released it a day early after it was leaked.
And on a GTA 6 Subreddit post users have been reacting.
deezzzznutzzzs said: “Damn that was quick, we will be in 2025 in no time.”
Subject_Passenger_22 said: “That’s crazy I remember going on Twitter and seeing that almost threw my phone in excitement.”
Its_buddy_btw said: “It’s really true what they say about time speeding up as you get older.”
Why planes crashed in GTA: San Andreas
A former Rockstar developer has revealed why planes crashed spontaneously in GTA: San Andreas.
Small planes would fly near the player to do a fly-by – and those who have played the game for hours and hours will no doubt have had experiences of planes crashing near them and in some cases crashing straight into them, causing a huge jump scare.
On X / Twitter, Obbe Vermeij, who worked at Rockstar for more than 10 years before leaving in 2009, said issues with planes spawning and the code itself occasionally caused the problem.
Obbe said: “Before creating the plane, my code looks for obstacles in its path. It scans a number of lines in the forward direction of the plane.
“These scans are slow so I used the absolute minimum. (Just the body and wingtips I believe.) This is why thin obstacles are sometimes not detected.”
The post says another developer said there was an actual bug in the code.
Michael actor teases GTA Online appearance
Ned Luke, the actor who played Michael De Santa in GTA 5, appears to have teased an appearance of the character in Rockstar’s ‘big’ summer update for GTA Online.
The developer announced it in an unexpected update that also said Bully and LA Noire are coming to its premium subscription service, GTA+, later this year.
GTA Online fans have been wanting Michael to appear in it for years – the other two main GTA 5 characters Trevor Philips and Franklin Clinton have already featured.
And Ned has teased fans they finally might be getting what they want.
Apparent Rockside insider @Nuro_Citrix Tweeted: “It’s time for us to receive the long awaited Michael update.”
And Ned replied: “Wouldn’t that be nice.”
Separately, a Tweet from @RStarUniverse said: “Picture this… Michael related DLC… Final mission he escapes to LSIA (Los Santos International Airport), gets a plane and says he’s going to Vice City… Would be a great way to tease him in GTA 6.”
And Shawn Fonteno, who played Franklin, replied to it, saying: “Hmmmm maybe a Michael and Franklin one.”
Bully 2: Everything we know so far
A composite image of the Rockstar logo and a screenshot from a Bully trailer
Yuki Iwamura, Getty Images & Rockstar Games
After Rockstar Games announced Bully would be coming to its premium subscription based service later in 2024, the rumour mill about the potential Bully 2 has started back up again.
Bully, also known as Canis Canim Edit, is a 2006 open-world action-adventure game which follows teenager James ‘Jimmy’ Hopkins who is involuntarily enrolled at boarding school for a year.
He attempts to become more popular with certain cliques, puts his efforts to rise through the ranks of the school system and, of course, gets himself into trouble along the way.
It’s a cult classic and fans are keen on the idea of Bully 2 – but where are we at with it a sequel?
There is speculation it could be worked on after the release of GTA 6 in 2025.
Read the full story here.
Trailer detail praised
A Reddit user has praised a small detail from the GTA 6 trailer.
In one of the early shots, a woman in a white dress can be seen putting her hands in the air while riding in a convertible.
User DemiPyramid says the two characters are Jason and Lucia in the GTA 6 Subreddit post.
And the post has sparked a discussion.
ermano_ said: “The nightlife in this game will be amazing.”
idkiiwla said: “I don’t think I’ve ever been mored hyped to play a game in my 25 years of existence.”
zeZakPMT said: “Is it just me or is this the worst looking shot of the trailer.”
InvestigatorDue7765 said: “I haven’t noticed Jason is behind the wheel, cool detail.”
MooseNo1495 said: “Also a cool detail I just noticed is the car in front of them moving aside when they’re like in the middle. Usually in GTA 5 the stupid NPCs drive towards you.”
Rockstar confirms return of fan favourite games
GTA developer Rockstar confirms Bully and LA Noire are back
Yuka Iwamura, Getty Images & Rockstar Games
In an update for GTA+, Rockstar Games’ premium subscription service, the developer announced the return of popular titles Bully and LA Noire.
GTA+ launched around the same time GTA 5 was released on current generation consoles, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, in 2022.
It’s a service that gives subscribers exclusive content in GTA Online and a selection of Rockstar titles.
And in a recent update, Rockstar announced Bully and LA Noire are being added later in 2024.
Read the full story here.
‘Most immersive evolution’
A Reddit user has started up a discussion focusing on some of the wording Rockstar has used to promote GTA 6.
On a pinned Rockstar Instagram post shared by Oath_Br3aker in the GTA 6 Subreddit, the caption for the trailer posted on the social media site says ‘the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet’.
And it’s led to a discussion as to why that’s been included as Oath_Br3aker says Rockstar doesn’t ‘usually market GTA as immersive’.
Darthlord_Juju said: “Basically just saying there will be more things to do and more ways to stay engaged.”
OptimusGrimes said: “It will be the biggest jump in quality for a GTA ever, with every other game coming out the same, or next generation from the previous, this is the first time they’ve skipped two, so saying it will be the biggest evolution isn’t too much of a reach.”
Nice_Reveue_7375 said: “S**t it better be after 12 years.”
Rockstar 25th anniversary logo ‘leaked’ online
The Rockstar logo seen at its 25th anniversary celebrations in December 2023 appears to have been ‘leaked’ online.
It was a big month for Rockstar – a landmark anniversary, the first GTA 6 trailer and new GTA Online content.
And the logo from company celebrations, a modified version of the usual one, appears to have made its way online after Rockstar announced a ‘big’ summer update for GTA Online.
It’s led X / Twitter users to spot a number of Easter eggs on it, including Chop’s tag, the Statue of Liberty, John and Arthur’s hats, the girl from the GTA 5 loading screen and even Trevor’s teddy bear.
Potential GTA 6 Easter eggs speculated include a flamingo and what appears to be a modified Banshee in the bottom right corner.
‘Map outline’ on bumper sticker
A Reddit user thinks they’ve found an outline of the GTA 6 map on a bumper sticker on the back of Jason’s car from the trailer.
It looks a lot like the map created by the Mapping Project, a community which is piecing together the map from co-ordinates in the trailer and leaks, and the outline of the Florida state which the fictional Leonida is based on.
And others in the GTA 6 Subreddit agree with Olivr_Ont.
1234normalitynomore said: “Good find, this is the first thing to actually make me think we’re getting the panhandle.”
BeCrafttt said: “That looks extremely identical to the map made by the GTA 6 mapping project.”
Buckman21 said: “Holy s**t he might be onto something.”
StingingGamer said: “Good find! If that is the map shape it looks great.”
What GTA Online update could mean for GTA 6
Rockstar has teased a ‘big’ summer update for GTA Online and it hasn’t taken long for the speculation to start.
Some have said it will be the final big update before all efforts are put into GTA 6 and others have theorised what could be in it.
X / Twitter user @GTAVI_Countdown said Michael, one of the main protagonists in GTA 5, is rumoured to be included in the update – he’s not yet featured in GTA Online and gamers on Reddit have been calling for this for a while.
Other theories from the account include a second trailer for GTA 6 being likely to drop around the time of the update to drive traffic.
The account says Rockstar did this with the Chop Shop GTA Online update which was revealed a week after the GTA 6 trailer – it’s the most viewed GTA Online trailer.
Rockstar teases ‘big’ summer update for GTA
Rockstar teases ‘big’ summer update for GTA
Yuki Iwamura, Getty Images
Rockstar has teased a ‘big’ summer update for its Grand Theft Auto series in an unexpected announcement.
With leaks, rumours and speculation swirling about all things GTA 6, like when exactly it will be released, delays in development and gameplay ‘leaks’ appearing online, Rockstar could put all of its eggs in that basket to get it done and released as soon as possible.
Read the full story here.
PC gamers’ frustration at release details
PC gamers have shared frustrations at GTA 6 release details.
The highly-anticipated game is set to be out in 2025 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S – but there are no details at this stage when it will release on PC.
It’s led to Reddit user Guimorneg posting a picture of Squidward looking at SpongeBob and Patrick playing outside – and they’ve been edited to be carrying the GTA 6 logo and PS5 controllers.
Guimorneg posted in the GTA 6 Subreddit along with the caption ‘please tell me is not only me’ (sic).
And the post has got a lot of reaction and comments.
fejota said: “I don’t have any console so yeah, that would be me too.”
deezzzznutzzzs said: “You have more than a year to save enough money for PS5 + GTA 6.”
Wokekyller said: “Me too, I wait until PC premiere. Good thing GTA Wiki and Youtube will save me during the waiting.”
New gameplay ‘leak’
X / Twitter user @Dead__exe has posted their latest gameplay ‘leak’.
The account is posting a video of what appears to be a ‘leak’ every day until the second trailer is released.
This one seems to show Jason outside of a building with two cars; there’s a mural opposite him too.
Jason takes cover behind one of the cars before an unknown man then approaches him, sees him hiding and starts shooting.
Mixed views on celebrities in GTA 6
A GTA 6 Subreddit discussion has led to mixed views on which celebrities could feature in the game and if any should feature at all.
A number of high-profile names have already been linked with the game, including musicians T-Pain, Anita Ward and Schoolboy Q – even more could feature with Rockstar owning a record label.
GTA Online has had a range of celebrities featuring post-launch, such as musician Dr Dre releasing an EP exclusively in the game.
GTA 4 also had appearances from comedians such as Ricky Gervais.
But views are mixed on if celebrities featuring are welcome in the Grand Theft Auto series.
FuzzyHotel6180 said: “I’d say so. I’m excited to see who they got for the different radio stations. GTA 5 had a lot.”
MixedRealityAddict said: “I hope not, I like fictitious characters.”
FoundationGreen6342 said: “Ricky Gervais needs to come back.”
Police footage ‘leaked’
Another video from X / Twitter user @Dead__exe appears to show a policeman shooting.
It shows him shooting a pistol and reloading when the clip is empty.
The account has not yet posted one for April 2 so another clip should be online soon.
Delay rumours ‘met with shrugs’ from Rockstar employees
It’s reported when Rockstar employees were asked what they made of the current rumour mill of delayed development, the response ‘was mostly met with shrugs’.
That’s according to a report from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier.
It also said: “Last summer, I asked someone at Rockstar how things were going, and they responded with one word: ‘chaos’.”
It comes as a full-time return to the office for the majority of Rockstar employees comes into effect in less than two weeks’ time which has been met with a backlash from some.
The report also says development delays are to be expected with it being a ‘messy, nonlinear process’.
‘Leaked’ Lucia footage
More footage from X / Twitter user @Dead__exe appears to show how Lucia could move in GTA 6.
While it doesn’t look like she’s directly controlled in this clip, a mouse click makes her walk slowly to one part of the screen, before another mouse click moves her more quickly.
Strip club footage ‘leaked’
A new video has been posted on X / Twitter of what appears to be ‘leaked’ footage of strip club gameplay in GTA 6.
Account @Dead__exe is posting a new video of what appears to be leaked footage every day before the second trailer is dropped.
The latest video appears to show the player controlling Jason through a strip club, with Lucia there too, and both take in a pole dance at the end of the clip.
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