Rockstar is Already Working on What Comes After Grand Theft Auto 6

The confirmation, which came in a recent CNBC interview, that Rockstar isn't putting all their resources into a single project suggests we might not have to wait another decade for the next big release after GTA 6. While Zelnick made it clear that GTA 6 remains the studio's primary focus, he specifically mentioned that Rockstar has a lot of other things going on behind the scenes.

Does this mean that Red Dead Redemption 3 is coming sooner rather than later? Probably not. It also probably doesn't mean that former Rockstar North lead dev Obbe Vermeij was right in saying that Grand Theft Auto 7 won't take as long to make, nor be as expensive. Instead, what this most likely implies is that the other Rockstar studios are starting to go back to whatever they were originally working on before they were called on to help with GTA 6.

So what exactly could these mystery projects be? Industry insiders have hinted that it could be a re-release of Grand Theft Auto 4. With the game's realistic tone and compelling story set in Liberty City about immigrant Niko Bellic, many fans consider it one of the series' best entries. A modern update could bring the game to current-generation consoles with improved graphics and performance.

Another project is a potential port of Red Dead Redemption 2 for newer platforms. The critically acclaimed western epic, which has consistently been outselling Grand Theft Auto V lately, has been a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One title since its 2018 launch, and reports suggest Rockstar might be preparing enhanced versions for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and even Nintendo Switch 2.

While we're at it, we can throw in Rockstar's incoming re-release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, which is cheaper and come with a physical disc.

With that said, the timing of these additional projects makes perfect sense. With GTA 6 not arriving until 2026, having other releases in 2025 could help maintain momentum and keep fans engaged. It would also provide additional revenue streams while the development on the PC port, the successor to Grand Theft Auto Online, and future ports of GTA 6 continue.