Series co-creator Dave Jones and original writer Brian Baglow confirmed they have not received early access to the upcoming title, with Baglow pre-ordering it like a typical consumer. The franchise initially started at DMA Design as a racing game named Race'n'Chase before shifting to an open-world crime format when developers realized breaking the law was more engaging than playing as police officers. Early budget limits birthed iconic staples like parody brands and fictional radio, while early political controversy in the UK Parliament was later revealed to be an orchestrated marketing stunt. That early groundwork paved the way for massive financial milestones, including Grand Theft Auto V…
Key points
Rockstar Games is keeping upcoming release details entirely confidential, extending no sp…: Rockstar Games is keeping upcoming release details entirely confidential, extending no special access privileges to the series' foundational creators.
The franchise originally pivoted away from a traditional racing format after developers r…: The franchise originally pivoted away from a traditional racing format after developers realized committing crimes was more fun than playing police.
Early parliamentary controversy surrounding the original 1997 game was actually an orches…: Early parliamentary controversy surrounding the original 1997 game was actually an orchestrated marketing stunt managed by publisher BMG Interactive.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
After a 13-year wait, two delays, and several high-profile leaks, the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 is fast approaching.
The next chapter in the nearly 30-year-old series, where players explore open worlds and break the law, has created an extraordinary level of anticipation.
And with developer Rockstar Games keeping their biggest release yet, tightly under wraps, even the people who helped bring the original to life aren't getting special treatment.
"We're all waiting to see what they've done," Dave Jones, GTA's co-creator, tells me, sitting alongside the original game's writer and publicist, Brian Baglow.
Have either of them been able to play the new game ahead of launch?
Baglow shakes his head. He's not complaining, though. "I've got the pre-order," he says.
The original Grand Theft Auto was released in 1997 in Dundee, Scotland by DMA Design, a relatively small team, at least judging by later games' standards.
Following its success with puzzle game Lemmings, the studio was toying around with the idea of making a racing game, initially called Race'n'Chase.
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