Grand Theft Auto
News, coverage and analysis tracking Grand Theft Auto across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Portal writer Erik Wolpaw is "not worried about AI taking over creative writing," but it could be the straight-faced foil to GTA's chaos
Portal writer Erik Wolpaw is exploring the use of generative AI for NPC reactions at Valve, though he finds the technology "scary." He is not concerned about AI replacing creative writers but sees potential for it to serve as a foil to chaotic game elements like those in Grand Theft Auto.
Reforged Studios Welcomes Headup to the Party
Reforged Studios has fully acquired the independent games publisher Headup, known for titles like Bridge Constructor and Pumpkin Jack. This strategic move aims to strengthen Reforged's developer-first publishing platform by combining Headup's curatorial expertise with Reforged's international infrastructure. Headup will continue its operations, with founder Dieter Schoeller also taking on the role of Chief Publishing Officer at Reforged Studios.
Ignition är inte seriöst – men seriöst kul
Ignition, a 1997 racing game, is remembered not as a serious simulation but as a fun and chaotic experience with creative 3D platforming-inspired tracks. Despite its short lifespan and unique CD-based music feature, the game's blend of racing and absurd obstacles left a lasting impression on the author.
Evening Legal Briefs
The United States has banned all new foreign-made network routers. In a separate incident, a YouTuber was found guilty of murdering his pregnant girlfriend after hiding behind a Grand Theft Auto livestream.
YouTuber Who Hid Behind GTA "Livestream" Found Guilty Of Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend
YouTuber Stephen McCullagh, known online as "Votesaxon07," has been convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend in December 2022. He used a pre-recorded Grand Theft Auto livestream as a ruse to commit the crime before returning home and calling emergency services. McCullagh faces a potential life sentence.
From a 'single save-passing exercise' to an 'international community': How GTA’s world-hopping Chain Game has endured through hundreds of rounds—and how it's preparing for its biggest test yet with GTA 6
The Grand Theft Auto Chain Game is a community-driven initiative where players collectively achieve 100% completion of various GTA titles by passing save files. Originating as a simple exercise, it has evolved into an international community that fosters teamwork and friendship, with plans to adapt the format for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6.
How to steal in Crimson Desert
Players need to equip a mask to steal items in Crimson Desert. Masks can be purchased from the Back Alley Shop in Hernand for 10 coppers, obtained by completing Jeffrey's Bounty quest in Chapter 2, or looted from bandits. Equipping a mask enables the steal function, but players must remain hidden until a timer runs out and will lose Contribution points.
Take-Two boss Zelnick says it would be "unfair" to put ads in premium games
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that implementing advertisements in premium games, for which players pay $70 or $80, would be unfair. He noted that while limited advertising is acceptable in titles like NBA 2K due to its in-game context, it is not suitable for full-priced releases. Zelnick also discussed the company's strategy to expand its revenue beyond the US and Western Europe by localizing content and investing in emerging markets.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says the idea that AI can make GTA is a 'laughable notion'
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick dismissed the idea that artificial intelligence tools like Google's Project Genie could create games comparable to Grand Theft Auto. He stated that such a notion is 'laughable' and that AI cannot replicate the complexity of developing such titles.
Games Inbox: Is Starfield a good game?
Readers express disappointment with Starfield's gameplay and its impact on Bethesda's development timeline, questioning its upcoming PlayStation 5 release. Concerns are also raised about Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology and its perceived negative effect on game art and visual quality, with some readers hoping for a more traditional approach from future consoles and developers.
Take-Two boss declines to offer advice to the new Microsoft Gaming chief, says she'll be fine on her own: 'She’s a highly accomplished executive who’s done just great without ever having met me'
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Microsoft Gaming's new CEO, Asha Sharma, is a highly accomplished executive who will succeed without his advice. Zelnick emphasized that the key to success in the entertainment business is consistently making hit games, a principle he applies at Take-Two.
MindsEye Becomes Self-published as IOI Partners Ends Collaboration - IGN
IOI Partners has ceased publishing duties for the game MindsEye, transferring all rights back to developer Build A Rocket Boy. The game, developed by Leslie Benzies' studio, has struggled since its 2025 launch, facing criticism for performance issues and low player counts. The developer has also dealt with accusations of corporate sabotage and multiple rounds of layoffs.
GTA themed fast food shop is playing chicken with Rockstar’s lawyers
A new fast-food shop named 'The Cluckin’ Bell', mimicking a fictional chain from the Grand Theft Auto series, has appeared in Salford, Manchester. This follows a previous attempt to open a 'Vice City Subs' shop, both of which are likely to attract legal action from trademark holder Take-Two Interactive. In related news, the fan-made Grand Theft Auto Wiki is planning to move away from Fandom due to community dissatisfaction.
GTA Wiki goes indie as it slams 'terrible' Fandom ad plague: 'Intrusive, unavoidable for most viewers,…
The GTA Wiki has become independent from Fandom due to the platform's aggressive advertising and perceived mismanagement. Editors cited Fandom's intrusive ads and a new CEO as primary reasons for the migration to a community-driven network called Weird Gloop.
Prism 2033 is a new open-world MMORPG making big promises – and flashing some AI
Prism 2033 is a new open-world MMORPG that promises a vast experience across different realities, featuring NPC romance, real-time aging, and generative AI for dialogue. The game is in development for PC and mobile devices, with no release date announced yet.
There's upscaling, and then there's straight-up changing a game's art direction, and your gaming hardware…
The upcoming Nvidia DLSS 5 technology is raising concerns about its potential to negatively impact game art direction by pushing for photorealism. While Nvidia states developers will have control, the author fears it could homogenize unique visual styles and diminish the artistic soul of games, potentially making hardware reliant on software that could change post-purchase.
Pope Leo Urges Media To Show The Real Horrors Of War And Not Video Game Propaganda
Pope Leo has urged media outlets to portray the true horrors of war rather than using video game propaganda. He criticized the use of video game footage in war reporting, citing examples from the White House that spliced real-world conflict with game clips. The Pope emphasized that information during wartime must avoid becoming propaganda, especially when it trivializes the suffering of victims.
GAME’s death signals video game retail’s end, and bids farewell to one of the happiest times of my life
The closure of the final three GAME stores in the UK marks the effective end of physical video game retail in the country. The author reflects on their time working at a Gamestation store in the mid-2000s, highlighting the community and camaraderie that has been lost with the shift to digital sales and online gaming.
Marathon Launch Review: Bungie’s extraction shooter is a hostile beast worth taming | VGC
Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, is described as a hostile but rewarding experience. The article touches on the broader gaming landscape, criticizing excessive negativity towards both live service and single-player titles, and uses examples like Destiny, God of War, and The Last of Us to illustrate points about game development and player reception.
Game companies say “don’t use our IP.” The US government keeps doing it anyway
The US White House has again used Nintendo's intellectual property, specifically from Wii Sports, in political content without apparent permission. This follows previous instances where the Trump administration used Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's IP, drawing criticism and legal action. Grand Theft Auto IP was also reportedly used in similar content.