Rockstar Games intends to reduce the lengthy development cycles between its major releases, signaling that players may not have to wait another decade for the studio's next game following the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. This sentiment was shared by development leads Rob Nelson, Phil Hooker, and Aaron Garbut in an interview with Bloomberg, as detailed by Kotaku.
The extended development period for Grand Theft Auto 6, which spans nearly a decade since the release of Red Dead Redemption 2, has reportedly allowed Rockstar to refine its tools and workflows. Hooker stated that the engine, tools, and team built during the Grand Theft Auto 6 project will enable the studio to "do things more quickly" in the future. Garbut added that significant foundational changes were made for this project, and these advancements will not be discarded.
This approach draws parallels to Rockstar's earlier years, when titles like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City were released just a year after Grand Theft Auto III, capitalizing on existing foundations. While an annualized release schedule is unlikely for modern AAA development, this could suggest more frequent major updates for Grand Theft Auto 6 and a potentially shorter turnaround for subsequent, entirely new titles.