A former designer at Rockstar Games, Ben Hinchliffe, has shared insights into the developer’s current focus as GTA 6 approaches its release. In an interview on GTAVIoclock YouTube channel, Hinchliffe discussed that when a title is about a year away from launch, the team prioritizes “tightening” the game in every corner to ensure a smooth experience for players.
Hinchliffe estimated that 90% of development work involves addressing player behavior they’re not intended to exhibit. He explained that players often deviate from objectives and engage in unintended activities, forcing developers to either stop them or accommodate their actions. This, he believes, is crucial for creating “good games” that allow players to express themselves freely.
In his opinion, the freedom to play as desired, while still achieving game goals, is a key aspect of what makes GTA games successful. He emphasized that Rockstar aims to enable this flexibility in GTA 6, ensuring that the game can handle players’ unconventional behavior and still provide an enjoyable experience.
GTA 6’s release date has not been officially confirmed, but it is expected to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X sometime in Fall 2025.
Source: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/grand-theft-auto/former-gta-6-dev-says-rockstar-will-currently-be-trying-to-really-tighten-the-game-in-every-corner-right-now-because-90-percent-of-your-work-is-accounting-for-players-who-dont-do-as-theyre-told