Grand Theft Auto VI is likely to remain the most expensive project in Rockstar Games’ history, even after the release of its sequel. Former Rockstar technical lead Obbe Vermeij shared this perspective during a recent appearance on the KIWI TALKS podcast, where he discussed how future development could differ from previous entries in the series.
Vermeij, who worked on several titles including Vice City and San Andreas, believes that Grand Theft Auto VII will cost less to produce than its predecessor. He explained that advances in development tools and processes could reduce the need for manual labor in areas such as map design and cutscene creation. According to him, automation and procedural systems may take on much of the work that currently requires large teams of developers.
While this could lead to shorter production cycles and lower budgets, it also raises concerns about the impact on jobs within the gaming industry. Vermeij’s comments suggest a future where fewer people may be involved in creating the detailed environments and complex narratives that have become hallmarks of the Grand Theft Auto series.
At this stage, there are no official details about Grand Theft Auto VII, and it will likely be years before Rockstar announces any plans for a follow-up to GTA VI. The studio is still focused on completing work on the sixth entry, which has already faced delays. Initially targeted for a late 2025 release, Rockstar confirmed in May that the game will now launch on May 26, 2026. It will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to introduce new features aimed at evolving the open-world genre. Among the rumored additions is a system that could allow musicians to upload their own tracks directly into the game, potentially opening up new opportunities for community engagement and user-generated content.
With nearly three years remaining until release, Rockstar continues to refine what is shaping up to be one of its most ambitious projects. For now, the focus remains on completing GTA VI, while speculation about the future of the series continues among fans and industry observers.
