Will GTA 6 Live Up to the Hype? 8 Reasons Why It May Not
The gaming world has been waiting over 11 years for a new Grand Theft Auto game. With GTA 6 now set to release on May 26th, 2026, the hype has reached crazy levels. But here’s the big question everyone is asking: Can this game meet all these sky-high expectations? We’ve looked at everything we know so far about GTA 6. From the trailers to the leaks to what Rockstar has promised, here are our thoughts on whether this game will deliver what fans are hoping for.
Table of Contents
1. The Graphics Look Real, But That Takes Time
Let’s start with what everyone notices first:the visuals. Rockstar emphasized that thetrailerwas made up of both cutscenes and gameplay captured on the PlayStation 5. Some people didn’t believe it because the game looked too good to be real gameplay.
The graphics will probably blow your mind when you first play GTA 6. But remember, stunning visuals alone don’t make a great game. The real question is whether all this focus on visual perfection will actually make the game better, or just make it prettier.
2. Vice City is Back, But It’s Not the Same
We’re returning toVice Cityfor the first time since 2006, but this isn’t the neon-soaked 1980s version you might remember. This modern-day Vice City is part of a much larger world called Leonida, inspired by Florida. The GTA 6 map is estimated to be2.55 times larger than the one in GTA 5, and that’s massive. You will find beaches, swamps, small towns, and everything in between.
The good thing is that Rockstar knows how to build immersive, interesting worlds. The concern is whether this gigantic map will feel alive and meaningful, or just be big for the sake of being big. After all, size doesn’t always equal fun.
3. Two Main Characters Could Work Well
GTA 6 will feature multiple playable protagonists. But unlike thetrio of friends in GTA 5, Lucia and Jason are lovers, which should create a very different dynamic.Luciaoriginally lived inLiberty City, and her father taught her fighting skills. She wears an ankle monitor early in the story, but gets rid of it quickly.
This could be really interesting. Having two characters who are in love adds a different emotional layer to the story. Their relationship could make you care more about what happens to them compared to three guys in GTA 5 who were mostly just business partners.
But it also means Rockstar needs to write a convincing romantic story while keeping the underworld story and action exciting, and that’s not easy to pull off. If they get it right, though, it could be the best GTA story yet. If they don’t, it could feel forced or cheesy. A lot of people will be disappointed given the insane hype around the game.
4. The Leaks Show Promise But Raise Questions
In 2022, we got one of the biggest gaming leaks ever when a user known as “teapotuberhacker” published 90 videos to the website GTAForums showing 50 minutes of work-in-progress game footage. This footage showed us a lot about what to expect from the upcoming GTA 6.
The leaked gameplay looked promising. We saw better character animations, more realistic interactions, and lots of small details that could make the world feel more alive. Options included a fishing mechanic similar to Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2. Other options showed animal taming and horse options.
However, this footage was from early development. Games change a lot before they are finally released. Some of these cool features might not make it into the final version. Plus, the leak happened three years ago, so we still don’t know what the current version looks like.
5. The Pressure Might Be Too Much
Here is something that worries us a bit. Several publishers awaited a release date announcement before scheduling their own games, with others prepared to reschedule to avoid competition. The entire gaming industry is basically afraid to release games around GTA 6’s release.
That’s a lot of pressure on one game.DFC Intelligence projected sales of 40 million and earnings of $3.2 billionin the first year. That’s double what Grand Theft Auto 5 earned, which was the highest-grossing game at launch. And that included $1 billion in preorders. When expectations are this high, even a great game can feel disappointing.
GTA 5 is still making money and breaking records 11 years later. Following that up is, of course, going to be hard. It’s possible, but the bar is set incredibly high.
6. The Budget is Absolutely Insane
People who are following the industry closely knowGTA 6 might cost over $1 billion to make. That includes everything – making the game, advertising it, and paying people for over 10 years. It’s probably the most expensive entertainment project ever made.
When you spend that much money, you can’t just make a good game. You need to make something legendary, something that sells like hot cakes and keeps making money for years. Maybe decades? There’s huge pressure there to get every dollar back and then some.
7. Rockstar Takes Their Time, But That Creates Problems
Rockstar doesn’t rush their games, and there’s a good reason for that. This slow approach gave us Red Dead Redemption 2, which was amazing. The attention to detail in that game was insane. If they bring that same level of care to GTA 6, we’re in for something special.
But the reality is, delays are basically guaranteed with Rockstar. Red Dead Redemption 2 got delayed twice. GTA 5 got delayed, too. The current May 2026 date already feels too good to be true. We might be looking at fall 2026 or even 2027.
There’s also thePCproblem. GTA 6 is only coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S at launch. PC players will have to wait at least 12-18 months, leaving out 30-40% of potential players at launch. By the time it hits PC, everyone will have already moved on to talking about other games. The downside of taking so long is that all the excitement is dead. All the hype is dead. Every delay gives fans more time to imagine the perfect game, leaving little to look out for. Plus, all those gameplay videos will ruin the wait time.
8. The Real Test Will Be the Fun Factor
At the end of the day, all the graphics and hype don’t matter if the game isn’t fun to play. GTA 6 looks to be no different, with both Jason and Lucia having multiple outfits, jackets, shoes, hats, sunglasses, and more to dress up in. We’re getting customization, activities like fishing are officially in the game, and it looks like a living, breathing world.
But the real question is whether all these features work together to create something crazy fun for dozens of hours. Will the missions be interesting? Will the world feel alive or just busy? Will the story make you want to keep playing?
Rockstar has a good track record here. Their games usually nail the fun factor even when other things aren’t perfect. But they’ve never had this much pressure before.
Will GTA 6 Live Up to the Hype?
Honestly? Probably not completely, because the hype is just too crazy. But will it be a great game that you’ll enjoy playing? Definitely yes! Rockstar knows how to make good games. They’ve got the money, the talent, and the time to create something special. The graphics will be amazing, the world will be huge, and the story will probably be interesting.
The reality is that GTA 6 faces challenges no game has ever faced before. People expect way too much; the budget is sky high, and everyone in the industry is watching. Add in likely delays and PC players getting left out at launch, and you have a perfect storm of pressure.
Just don’t expect it to change your life or be the perfect game that fixes everything wrong with modern gaming. Expect a really good Grand Theft Auto game with some new ideas and amazing attention to detail. In the end, we are sure that the wait will be worth it, even if it’s not worth all the hype that’s built up over the past decade. Sometimes that’s enough.
Shida Aruya
Shida is a gaming writer at TechWiser who loves getting comfy with a good book. When she is not writing, you’ll catch her growing crops in Stardew Valley and Fields of Mistria, or exploring Fortnite. For Shida, nothing beats a day split between reading books and playing games.
