Next Grand Theft Auto finally confirmed to be in ‘active development’ – nine years after last game

At long last, video game developer Rockstar has given fans the news they have been waiting for – it is developing a new Grand Theft Auto.

There have been countless rumours about the follow-up to the wildly-successful Grand Theft Auto 5, which since its initial release nine years ago has become the second-biggest selling game of all time – second only to Minecraft.

Rockstar said: “With the unprecedented longevity of GTAV, we know many of you have been asking us about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.

“With every new project we embark on, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we have previously delivered – and we are pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway.”

Why has it been such a long time coming?

GTAV was released in 2013, and sees the three protagonists pull off heists in an effort to off debts, buy vehicles, and purchase property.

Until that game hit shelves, fans had been used to getting their hands on a new entry in the unapologetically violent series every few years.

But the incredible popularity of the latest game’s online modes has seen its lifespan extended dramatically, and it’s received dozens of updates.

GTAV originally hit the Xbox 360 and PS3, but later came to their successors (the PS4 and Xbox One), and next month will come to their successors – the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Rockstar also re-released three old favourites – GTAIII, Vice City and San Andreas – in the form of a remastered collection for newer consoles last year, but it was poorly received for being riddled with bugs and glitches.

It came after one of the primary creative forces behind Rockstar, Dan Houser, left the company in 2020.

When might we see the next game?

No more details on the next game have been made available, including a potential release date or the plot.

All the infamous studio will say for now is: “We look forward to sharing more as soon as we are ready, so please stay tuned to the Rockstar Newswire for official details.”