Former Rockstar Developer Sheds Light on GTA 6’s Lengthy Development

A former Rockstar Games developer has offered new insight into how long Grand Theft Auto 6 has been in development. With the game’s release slated for May 2026, curiosity around its production timeline has been growing—especially considering the long gap since the last installment.

When GTA 6 arrives next year, it will have been nearly 13 years since Grand Theft Auto 5 debuted. That’s more than double the five-year interval between GTA 4 and GTA 5, leaving many fans wondering why this entry took significantly longer. In a recent video posted to his YouTube channel ‘Game World Art,’ former Rockstar artist David O’Reilly reflected on the process while reacting to clips from GTA 6's second trailer. He revealed that he contributed to the game’s development between 2018 and 2023, joining the project shortly after work on Red Dead Redemption 2 wrapped. Looking back, he described the experience as fascinating now that he’s seeing it from the outside.

GTA 6 Development Reportedly Began Post-RDR2

O’Reilly’s remarks suggest that production on GTA 6 officially began following the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018. If accurate, this points to an eight-year development cycle by the time the game launches in 2026. While long timelines are common for AAA titles, some may be surprised that work didn’t begin sooner—especially considering the commercial success and enduring popularity of GTA 5. It’s likely that Rockstar’s significant focus on RDR2 delayed the start of the next Grand Theft Auto title.

With GTA 6's second trailer already smashing viewership records online, expectations are high for what Rockstar will reveal next. Now that there’s just about a year left until launch, fans are hopeful the marketing rollout will pick up pace, with more footage, features, and details surfacing in the coming months. After the 17-month gap between the game’s first and second trailers, a steadier stream of updates would certainly be welcome.

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---Silviya.Y