Rockstar North
Rockstar North business and news from across the web.
GTA 6 Team “Probably Rebuilt the Entire RAGE Engine,” Says Former Rockstar Audio EngineerFormer Rockstar audio engineer Rob Carr speculates that Rockstar Games likely rebuilt the entire RAGE Engine from scratch for Grand Theft Auto 6 due to its extended development cycle. He notes significant advancements in technology since Grand Theft Auto 5, which was released across three console generations. The article also touches on potential mechanics carried over from previous titles and Grand Theft Auto Online.
Barely a week later, GTA 4 pre-release build that was a treasure trove of cut Rockstar ideas is being scrubbed from the…A pre-release build of Grand Theft Auto 4, discovered on a developer kit purchased by a fan, has been taken down. The build contained cut content and ideas, including the previously confirmed late-stage removal of ferries from the game. Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar North, confirmed the cut content.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Development Costs May Have Exceeded $2 BillionRockstar North has reportedly spent approximately $2.11 billion on the development of Grand Theft Auto 6, according to filings with UK company registrar Companies House. Take-Two Interactive Software confirmed that marketing for the game will begin this summer, maintaining confidence in its November 19 release date. CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed optimism about the launch and denied rumors of delays for the physical edition.
April 2026: Switch 2 Drops Fortnite, GTA, Mario & Perso... | TAGMultiple reports indicate potential price increases for the Nintendo Switch 2, with experts suggesting a price point over $450 by year's end due to rising component costs. Meanwhile, Kena: Bridge of Spirits receives a Switch 2 port that offers little improvement over previous versions. Sony is also reportedly increasing prices for the PlayStation 5 lineup, with a PS5 Pro potentially costing $900.
It's no GTA 6 leak, but fans have discovered a treasure trove of hidden GTA 4 assets and an unfinished zombies mode…A second-hand Xbox 360, revealed to be a Rockstar North development kit, contained a pre-release version of Grand Theft Auto 4 and numerous unreleased assets. These discoveries include cut content, alternative radio stations, unused weapons, and a potentially unfinished zombies mode. The find was shared by a user on the GTA Forums.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Development Costs May Exceed $2 Billion, Per UK Public RecordsPublic records from the UK indicate that Rockstar North may have spent approximately $2.11 billion on Grand Theft Auto 6 development as of March 31, 2025, primarily on employee wages since March 2019. This figure does not include marketing costs and could exceed $3 billion by the game's November 19th launch, potentially making it the most expensive game ever developed.
Ancient version of GTA 4 with a cut zombie mode, ferry assets and DJ lines reportedly found at car boot saleAn early development build of Grand Theft Auto IV, dating from November 2007, has reportedly been discovered on an Xbox 360 development kit. Former Rockstar North technical director Obbe Vermeij confirmed the existence of cut ferry assets and commented on potential zombie minigame content. The build, found at a car boot sale, has been uploaded to the Internet Archive and is being scoured for unearthed assets, including unused radio lines and character models.
GTA 4 Dev Kit, Complete With Unfinished Zombies Mode, Reportedly Sold Out Of Car TrunkA development kit for Grand Theft Auto 4 on the Xbox 360, reportedly containing an unfinished Zombies mode, was discovered and sold at a car boot sale in Edinburgh. The buyer acquired the kit, which includes hardware from Rockstar North, for approximately $6.59. The contents of the dev kit have been shared online, offering new details about the game's development.
GTA 4 "ditched" ferries because there were "too many issues," former Rockstar lead explains after a development build surfaces online from someone who accidentally bought it at a car boot saleA former Rockstar North lead explained that ferries were cut from Grand Theft Auto 4 due to anticipated issues with collision and AI for pedestrians and vehicles. This revelation comes after a development build of the game surfaced online, reportedly purchased from a car boot sale. The build, found on an Xbox 360, is now being offered for sale by its owner.
GTA 6 sleuths deduce that Rockstar North's likely spent over $2 billion making the long-awaited game after snooping…Fans are analyzing Rockstar Games' financial records to estimate the development cost of Grand Theft Auto 6, with speculation suggesting it could exceed $2 billion. The long wait for the sequel and the high production value seen in trailers contribute to these budget estimations.- The Steam Spring Sale is here with discounts on Arc Raiders, Hades 2 and much moreThe Steam Spring Sale is now live, featuring discounts on a wide range of games until March 26. Notable deals include Arc Raiders for $32, Hades 2 for under $23, and Ghost of Tsushima on PC for $36. Several titles are available at 90 percent off, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate and Fallout New Vegas.
MindsEye developer announces more layoffs while alleging 'corporate sabotage'Build A Rocket Boy (BARB), the studio founded by Leslie Benzies, has announced a second round of layoffs, citing "organized espionage and corporate sabotage" affecting their game MindsEye. CEO Mark Gerhard stated that evidence of criminal activity has been gathered and is moving towards prosecution, impacting the studio's ability to support the game and leading to further job cuts.
How the video games industry will finally destroy itself - Reader's FeatureThis reader's feature argues that the video game industry is unsustainable due to a financial system that disincentivizes innovation and leads to conservatism and consolidation. The author suggests that increasing costs, reliance on finance capital over productive labor, and the rise of AI threaten the industry's long-term survival, potentially leading to a crisis similar to broader economic issues.
Pokémon turns 30 but is Winds and Waves the evolution the series needs?This article discusses the current state of the Pokémon video game franchise, questioning if recent titles like Pokémon Winds and Waves represent a necessary evolution. It highlights the series' immense popularity across various media while criticizing the stagnation and technical issues in its core games, contrasting them with the innovation seen in other Nintendo franchises like The Legend of Zelda. The piece also examines the business reasons why Game Freak and Nintendo may have little incentive to change their development and release cadence, despite fan complaints.
GTA 6 Developers Harassed by YouTuber Demanding Delay Answers - New Game NetworkA YouTuber traveled to Rockstar North's headquarters to confront developers about Grand Theft Auto 6, demanding answers about potential delays and trailer releases. The content creator's actions, which involved harassing employees outside the studio, have been widely condemned by the gaming community as inappropriate and intrusive fan behavior. Despite the backlash, the YouTuber claims to have received information about a future trailer and delay announcement, though this remains unconfirmed by Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.- Red Dead RedemptionRed Dead Redemption has been re-released on current-gen consoles, offering players the chance to revisit John Marston's story. While the game's core experience remains captivating, its $50 price tag for a decade-old title without significant enhancements has sparked debate regarding game preservation and the value proposition of re-releases.
GTA 6: Release Date, Preorders, Price Rumors, And Everything Else We KnowGrand Theft Auto VI is slated for release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with preorders beginning June 25. The game returns to Vice City and follows protagonists Jason and Lucia. Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive have emphasized the long development time needed to achieve a high level of polish and innovation, with CEO Strauss Zelnick suggesting the game will be "something you've never seen before" and potentially priced higher than current industry standards.
GTA5 : GRAND THEFT AUTO VGrand Theft Auto V is an action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC. The game features three protagonists and a vast open world, blending storytelling and gameplay. It has received numerous awards and nominations since its release.