New job listings for game testers at multiple Rockstar Games studios have reignited rumors of Grand Theft Auto VI, giving some hope that the title may be closer to announcement than previously thought. The previous title in the series, Grand Theft Auto V, was released nearly eight years ago in 2013, and despite overwhelming demand by fans for the next installment, Rockstar has been tight-lipped about any development thus far.
While not much is known about the next game in the Grand Theft Auto series, the current GTA 5 is alive and thriving, thanks to continued support for GTA Online by Rockstar and the fast-growing popularity of roleplay servers and mods. Due to the continued commercial success of GTA Online, Rockstar shifted its priorities, shelving plans for GTA 5 single-player DLC to instead focus on online content, as GTA Online continues to make the developer huge sums of revenue year over year.
First reported by The National, three job listings for Game Testers were recently posted by Rockstar Games for its studios in Edinburgh, India, and Lincoln, sparking rumors that a Grand Theft Auto 6 announcement could finally be on the horizon. Per the listings, potential candidates would be required to find, report, and reproduce bugs via game logs, screenshots, and videos. Unsurprisingly, those that wish to be considered would need to have an understanding and interest in the games industry, “knowledge of current generation games consoles and PCs,” and be “competent at gaming.”
As Rockstar North, based in Edinburgh, are the studio responsible for the GTA series, the listing for game testers could very well mean that testing for the highly anticipated game could be ramping up soon. Interestingly, the listing varies slightly for the role at Rockstar India, stating that candidates would require knowledge and experience of recent titles by the developer. This could suggest that Rockstar may simply be finishing up work on the GTA Online standalone game or the next-gen port of GTA 5, the latter of which is expected to be released the latter half of 2021.
With the release of the new generation of consoles, the higher performance capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S would mean that an ideal release time for GTA 6 is sooner rather than later. An early console lifespan launch would better maximize on the longevity of the new machines, whereas GTA 5 feels especially dated in 2013 because it released toward the end of the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Considering the massive revenue Rockstar continues to receive from GTA Online (and soon-to-be triple-dipping on GTA 5 purchases) and its thriving community eight years on since release, it’s unsurprising that the developer have taken its time with anything Grand Theft Auto 6-related thus far.
Source: The National