GTA 6 was originally Project Americas and covered “big swaths” of country’s north and south, Rockstar reveals, in interview tackling crunch, delays, and leaks
Rockstar has revealed that Grand Theft Auto 6 began as Project Americas, a plan for a much larger game spanning parts of North and South America. The idea was later scaled back to Miami and its surrounding areas, while work was delayed as Rockstar prioritised Red Dead Redemption 2 and refined the new game.
The project took shape around 2019, with Jason and Lucia as dual protagonists, but the Covid-19 pandemic and the scale of development added challenges. Rockstar says it changed its approach to crunch after Red Dead Redemption 2, though staff views varied and the company faces a Scottish employment tribunal over the dismissal of 34 employees. A 2022 phishing attack exposed unfinished footage, and the game’s planned 2025 release was moved to May 2026; the article says Rockstar later concluded it needed still more time.
- GTA 6 was once planned to span parts of North and South America.
- Rockstar scaled the setting back to Miami and its surrounding areas.
- Development faced delays, leaked footage and scrutiny over working conditions.
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Grand Theft Auto is a series of open-world action games made by Rockstar Games, in which players explore fictional cities and follow criminal stories. Grand Theft Auto 6 is set in a fictional version of Miami and nearby areas, and follows two central characters, Jason and Lucia.
Rockstar first considered a much larger setting spanning parts of North and South America, before narrowing the game’s scope. Its development followed Red Dead Redemption 2, another major Rockstar game, and overlapped with the Covid-19 pandemic, adding to the demands of making a large, detailed game.
The game’s development has also drawn attention to working conditions at Rockstar and to a 2022 cyber attack that exposed unfinished footage. Its release timing matters to players and the games industry because it is one of the most anticipated titles in the series.
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The case for
A large, continent-spanning game could have delivered greater variety and ambition, and the original plan may have reflected the scale players expected from a new Grand Theft Auto. Delays and a narrower setting can be seen as reasonable choices if they help the studio manage development pressures, respond to the pandemic and release a more polished game; Rockstar also says it has changed its approach to crunch.
The case against
Scaling the project back may have reduced the breadth and ambition that made the original concept appealing, while repeated delays can frustrate players and raise questions about planning and delivery. Claims of improved working practices also warrant scrutiny given varied staff accounts and the employment tribunal over the dismissal of 34 employees; the leaked footage further exposed the consequences of security failures, even if the attack itself was criminal.