Grand Theft Auto VI will launch without microtransactions and has not utilized generative AI in its development, according to information shared by Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson. The confirmations came during recent discussions with media outlets following visits to Rockstar's Scotland-based studio.
During an appearance on the Kinda Funny Gamecast, Andy Cortez and Greg Miller reported that when directly asked about potential microtransactions and the integration of generative AI, Nelson provided a definitive "no" to both inquiries. Cortez clarified that this means players will not be able to use real-world money to purchase in-game items, stating, "No monetization." Miller added that the response to whether AI is present in the game was also "No AI."
The absence of generative AI in Grand Theft Auto VI's development was also highlighted by The New York Times in a feature on the game. The publication noted that Rockstar emphasized the human-crafted nature of the game's extensive animation library, which reportedly exceeds 600,000 animations. This figure significantly surpasses the animation counts for previous titles, with Grand Theft Auto V featuring 55,000 animations and Red Dead Redemption 2 including 300,000. Rockstar has stressed the considerable human effort involved in creating these assets, underscoring a commitment to traditional development practices for the highly anticipated sequel.