Rockstar Games is possibly the only company that can paralyze the video game industry with a simple social media post. Naturally, other studios are keen to avoid directly competing with any of its releases. With Grand Theft Auto VI around the corner, Xbox is taking the necessary precautions.
After a long wait, the new installment of the open-world game was revealed to the world in December 2023. Details are scarce, but we already know the platforms it will be available on and the identities of the protagonists. Additionally, the developer revealed that the release is planned for fall 2025.
This is a very broad release window spanning from September 21 to December 21. Like many other companies in the video game industry, Xbox is waiting to learn more details before starting to plan the release dates of their upcoming games.
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Xbox and the Rest of the Industry Don’t Want to Compete Against Grand Theft Auto VI
On June 9, the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 was held, an event where Microsoft shined with major announcements that excited fans; however, it is notable that many of the titles shown did not have a release date.
Fable, South of Midnight, and DOOM: The Dark Ages will debut in 2025, while Gears of War: E-Day, Perfect Dark, and State of Decay 3 do not have an approximate release window. In an interview on Varietys Strictly Business podcast, Matt Booty from Xbox revealed that not providing release dates was an intentional move.
While discussing the release schedule, the head of Xbox Games Studios stated that the teams want to find the best time to launch their titles. He also acknowledged that the industry does not want to compete against Grand Theft Auto VI or other high-profile games.
“I think many, of course, will plan around GTA VI. We’re all eagerly anticipating that game, which should be amazing. Certainly, everyone in the industry wants to make sure they’re not in the shadow of someone else’s big release, but we just need to keep our options open,” commented the executive.
Similarly, Matt Booty acknowledged that no release dates were provided during the digital event to avoid delays and ensure their first-party titles do not overshadow each other. In this regard, he emphasized that they want to ensure each game has space and the opportunity to shine.
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“We have a pretty large portfolio, and we have a great lineup for fall and spring. So, when we leave the months and days unspecified, this has a lot to do with the fact that we look ahead to make sure we plan properly to avoid blocking ourselves,” concluded the Xbox executive.
Grand Theft Auto V has already surpassed the 200 million units sold mark and has generated over $9 billion in revenue for Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive since its release . With this in mind, it’s no surprise that Xbox and other companies want to stay clear of directly competing with GTA VI.
But tell us, which Xbox game excites you the most? Do you think Rockstar Games’ title will overshadow the rest of the 2025 releases? Let us read your thoughts in the comments.
For more information on Xbox, visit this page. On the other hand, click here to read more news related to Grand Theft Auto.
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