A new report has highlighted the “havoc” Grand Theft Auto 6’s lack of a release date is causing among game publishers, as they attempt to draw up launch plans for their titles that won’t put them on a collision course with Rockstar’s all-consuming sequel – with one executive reportedly saying, “We don’t want to be anywhere near that.”
Following comments made by EA’s Andrew Wilson earlier this year suggesting the publisher would be willing to shift the new Battlefield’s release in order to avoid GTA 6, journalist Christopher Dring spoke to a number of industry executives to understand how Rockstar’s game was impacting their own decision-making behind the scenes – with the responses he received reflecting those previously expressed by Wilson.
Speaking on the newly launched The Game Business podcast, Dring shared a quote from the boss of “one of the biggest games publishers in the world”, who didn’t want to go on record. “Rockstar games always suck a lot of money and, more importantly, time out of the market,” the executive told Dring. “We don’t want to be anywhere near that. We’re working up multiple different plans for our title.”
Another senior executive from a different publisher shared similar sentiments, telling Dring, “Even without GTA, it’s immensely difficult to find free time for new games to shine. Time is the real scarcity for us, not money. It’s tough out there.”