Sometimes, you don’t fancy going out. Indeed, live music events taking place around the country are great in the spring and summer months, but in the winter and on lazy days during the warmer months, there’s nothing quite like getting into a great video game. Whether it’s for the challenge or the story, classic titles can be entertaining for days on end.
One that’s proven to be the most successful piece of entertainment happens to be made right here in the UK. Developed by Rockstar North and created by Scottish duo David Jones and Mike Dailly, Grand Theft Auto is one of the most popular gaming series in existence, and Grand Theft Auto V remains a top-seller to this day despite being released in 2013. Now, not only is there a sequel officially announced, but it’s also arriving sooner than expected.
The biggest entertainment product ever made
Grand Theft Auto has been popular for decades and has consistently sold well, but Grand Theft Auto V took it up to another level. Launched in 2013, just five years later, it was reported that GTA V had already become the most profitable entertainment product of all time. With 90 million units sold and $6 billion in revenue, it set the standard for a game that can appeal both for its single-player narrative and the ever-updated online setting.
Since that 2018 revelation, GTA V has continued to rank among the best-selling games in the world. In 2022, it landed fifth in units sold, shifting another 816,081 copies. Certainly a decline on the 2.25 million copies sold in the first five days of its release – which was a UK record – but to able to continue to sell that well nine years after the release is almost unprecedented.
During 2022, GTA V even managed to unseat the highly anticipated Elden Ring as well as Gran Turismo 7. Topping the digital charts at the end of March 2022, the surge came thanks to the new edition being released for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. With additional units sold, the game would have inevitably made even more money once players got into the GTA Online part of the game.
Regular updates to the online multiplayer part helped to keep the game fresh, entertaining, and profitable. Updates like the addition of multiplayer heists and the Diamond Casino & Resort update brought in millions of players. All-in, the game has sold over 185 million copies and made its publisher, Take-Two, a massive $8 billion in revenue (£6.4 billion).
GTA V’s influence can be seen across entertainment, from video games looking to mimic or spin the formula, like True Crime: Streets of LA or Sleeping Dogs, to other forms of gaming. The UK hosts several highly-rated real money casinos teeming with slots, including some titles that clearly draw inspiration from GTA. Platforms like LeoVegas Casino or All British Casino offer welcome bonuses for players who want to try their games out. For Vice City fans and those looking forward to GTA VI, the Miami Glow online slot is clearly the draw, while those who enjoyed the heists of GTA V would look to Action Bank or Break Da Bank Again.
A new instalment expected to make billions
In December last year, it was officially revealed that Grand Theft Auto VI would be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in 2025. The game will return to the neon-lit streets of Vice City and the surrounding state of Leonida. It’ll begin as the city and Everglades-like surrounding areas, but through its lifetime, more will be added to the core locations and beyond. Rockstar North are planning on another sustained hit.
Take-Two is expecting particularly rapid success. For the fiscal year of 2025, ending March 31, 2025, the publisher has listed its expectations as $8 billion in revenue. Now, Take-Two has several games in the works and due for release, but it seems obvious that the huge prediction is focused on GTA VI’s success. What this means for the players is that the game will likely launch in the first few months of next year.
One of Britain’s highest-earning exports will soon be getting a sequel and, provided that the game holds up when it lands, it should be yet another huge earner for Rockstar North.
