Take a deep breath and remember: Delays are good.
Okay, that statement isn’t *always* true, but it often is. While delayed projects can lead to disappointing results in some cases (think Duke Nukem Forever), more often than not, taking extra time results in a superior product. The meticulous attention to detail that comes with extended development periods is crucial in art, as is the courage to discard ideas that don’t meet expectations. Consider how many half-finished games you've played and wished the publisher had delayed until they were truly ready. Keep that in mind.
GTA 6 is delayed, and that's a positive development because it's likely to be better for it.
Rockstar Games has a storied history of delaying their titles to ensure they meet their high standards, a practice that aligns them with the likes of Nintendo. This discipline results in games that are thoroughly polished and ready for the market, much like a well-cooked meal that's worth the wait.
As a long-time fan of the Grand Theft Auto series, I've experienced the evolution of the franchise from the early days of four-player PC GTA LAN parties to the most niche titles like London 1969, the acclaimed GTA V, and the criminally underrated Chinatown Wars on the DS. Throughout decades of gameplay, I've navigated these vibrant, chaotic worlds, thankful that these games often arrive late but always deliver greatness. Here’s a look at the history of delays in the GTA series, with a nod to Red Dead Redemption as well.
Grand Theft Auto III
Rockstar’s New York office was near the World Trade Center, leading to a brief delay of GTA III following the September 11 attacks. Marketing VP Terry Donovan announced the delay shortly after the tragedy:
"Our decision is based on two factors: firstly, it has been challenging to work in downtown Manhattan due to intermittent communication infrastructure, and secondly, we felt a full content review of our titles and marketing materials was necessary following the horrifying event we all witnessed last week."
He continued: "As for Grand Theft Auto, the game is vast, and the review process is extensive. We've identified certain small contextual references and rare gameplay instances that no longer feel appropriate. We apologize to those waiting for the game, but we believe you'll understand our reasoning. Rest assured, the game will be phenomenal and hit shelves in late October."
Even with minor adjustments, the delay was a wise move for both Rockstar and the players. Launching a game with scenes of violence against emergency services so soon after a real-life tragedy would have been insensitive.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The shortest delays in the series are shared by Vice City and San Andreas. In the era before digital distribution and day-one patches, predicting physical product demand was tricky. Rockstar delayed Vice City by a week to meet the overwhelming demand for more copies. Similarly, San Andreas for PS2 was pushed back by a week to allow the development team a few extra days to refine their two-year project.
Every Celebrity in GTA: San Andreas
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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
The GTA handheld titles are gems worth revisiting on your PSP or DS. While these games typically launched on time, Vice City Stories for PSP was delayed by two weeks in North America and longer in parts of Europe. Chinatown Wars for the DS, arguably the best GTA game ever (in my opinion), arrived two months later than planned. Despite the delay, it received critical acclaim, though it unfortunately didn't sell well enough to warrant a sequel.
AnswerSee ResultsGrand Theft Auto IV
Following the groundbreaking success of GTA III, anticipation for GTA IV was immense. With a new console generation and the departure from RenderWare, Rockstar aimed for the stars. Realizing this vision required several months of delay.
As Rockstar’s Sam Houser explained, “The new consoles \[PS3 and 360\] are allowing us to create the Grand Theft Auto game we always dreamed about. Every aspect of the game and its design has been completely transformed. The game is huge and is pushing the hardware platforms to their absolute limits. The top engineers from Sony and Microsoft are working closely with the team in Edinburgh right now, helping us to fully leverage the power of both platforms. As always, our goal is to surpass even the wildest expectations of the game's fans, and to create the ultimate high-definition video game experience."
Grand Theft Auto V
The biggest console game of all time, GTA V, was a long time in the making. Initially planned for spring 2013, it was released in September of that year. In late January 2013, Rockstar released the following message:
“We know this is about four months later than originally planned and we know that this short delay will come as a disappointment to many of you, but, trust us, it will be worth the extra time. GTAV is a massively ambitious and complex game and it simply needs a little more polish to be of the standard we and, more importantly, you require. To all Grand Theft Auto fans, please accept our apologies for the delay, and our promise that the entire team here is working very hard to make the game all it can be. We are doing all we can to help ensure it will meet if not exceed your expectations come September – we thank you for your support and patience.”
Their promise held true. GTA V became the most successful console game ever and, alongside RDR2, remains a crown jewel in Rockstar’s collection.
Red Dead Redemption 2
While not part of the GTA series, Red Dead Redemption 2 is Rockstar’s masterpiece, and its delays are worth mentioning. It was postponed twice, first in spring 2017 for quality assurance, and again in February 2018, moving the release to late October. Rockstar’s statement emphasized the need for additional polish:
"We are excited to announce that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released on October 26th, 2018. We apologize to everyone disappointed by this delay. While we had hoped to have the game out sooner, we require a little extra time for polish.
“We sincerely thank you for your patience and hope that when you get to play the game, you will agree the wait will have been worth it. In the meantime, please check out these screenshots from the game. We look forward to sharing a lot more information with you in the coming weeks."
These delays paid off, delivering a work of art that remains unmatched in the adventure gaming genre.
So, don't despair. GTA 6 will arrive, and when it does, it will almost certainly be exceptional. See you in Vice City.
