Despite unfounded rumors to the contrary, Grand Theft Auto 6 is likely not "coming soon," based on an SEC filing from publisher Take-Two. Grand Theft Auto V first released way back in 2013, but it remains incredibly popular. The open world sandbox's lengthy and character-focused single player story mode is beloved by critics and audiences alike, while the online multiplayer suite, Grand Theft Auto Online, has become a full-blown cultural phenomenon. Even seven years after the initial last-gen release of Grand Theft Auto V, the online portion of the game is still receiving new content in the form of missions, activities, vehicles, weapons, and costumes.
Regardless of the multiplayer mode's continued popularity, fans continue to anticipate the release of a proper Grand Theft Auto 6. In the wake of Red Dead Redemption 2's successful 2018 launch, all attention has now turned to the unannounced sequel in terms of excitement and speculation. Rumors and scant in-game evidence pointed towards a 2021 release for the next game, but new information casts a long shadow of doubt on those high hopes.
As reported by Venture Beat, a new SEC 10-K filing from publisher Take-Two indicates the company plans to spend upwards of $89 million in the 2024 fiscal year. This massive expenditure indicates they plan to release a major tentpole video game during that period. Following this logic, this could put the potential release window for Grand Theft Auto 6 between March 2023 and March 2024. A previous SEC filing pointed to the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 before that game was ever officially announced, and a legitimate document from Take-Two carries a lot more weight than the unsubstantiated internet rumors that inevitably swirl around a franchise as massive as Grand Theft Auto.
Last year's SEC filing had the major marketing spending occurring during fiscal year 2023, indicating Grand Theft Auto 6 was delayed at some point last year. Either way, Grand Theft Auto 6 is not due to arrive, or even be announced, anytime soon. At this point, any and all knowledge is just rumor, speculation, and wishful thinking.
That said, a future title in the Grand Theft Auto series is still a sure bet, as Grand Theft Auto V has raked in over $6 billion in revenue since 2013. To this day, the game remains a staple on the NPD market research charts, constantly bringing in new players with its cinematic story and ridiculous (and ridiculously unbalanced) multiplayer mode. With that in mind, developer Rockstar likely doesn't want to release a sequel that could cannibalize profits yet to be earned by an existing entry. The developer is also notorious for taking their time with new games, so they likely won't even think about formally announcing Grand Theft Auto 6 until they're absolutely ready. Based on Take-Two's SEC paperwork, audiences could be in for a long wait.
Source: Venture Beat