The disastrous launch of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition has certainly hurt Rockstar Games' near-spotless reputation for putting out high quality products, but there's still no denying the weight behind its name. Rockstar Games remains an industry juggernaut, and while it's had some missteps lately, it otherwise is pretty consistent about releasing some of video games' highest-rated and most influential titles.
Since the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, fans haven't quite been sure what Rockstar Games' next original title will be. But while Rockstar itself hasn't pulled the curtain back on its next game, reputable leakers and industry insiders have said that it's likely going to be the highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, which would be coming a decade after the launch of Grand Theft Auto 5. An official announcement for GTA 6 has yet to come, but considering the dizzying amount of cash GTA 5 has made, GTA 6 is just a matter of time.
Rockstar Games may very well put out Grand Theft Auto 6 at some point within the next few years, but fans shouldn't expect the game to drop in 2022. In fact, it would be surprising if Rockstar Games had any brand-new release to launch in 2022 at all. But while there won't necessarily be a completely new experience for fans to check out, there will still be some Rockstar Games titles released this year.
Upcoming Rockstar Games Titles for 2022
- Grand Theft Auto 5 (PS5/Xbox Series X) - March 2022
- Grand Theft Auto Online (PS5/Xbox Series X) - March 2022
- Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition (Android/iOS) - TBA 2022
Rockstar Games has three titles confirmed for 2022 at the time of this writing, though they are all ports and/or remasters of older games. March 2022 will see the launch of Grand Theft Auto 5 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, bringing Rockstar Games' open world classic to next-generation consoles. Rockstar hasn't provided many details on how Grand Theft Auto 5 will be enhanced on PS5 and Xbox Series X, but one has to imagine that the next-gen version of the game will be the truly definitive way to experience it.
The Grand Theft Auto 5 single-player experience is making the leap to PS5 and Xbox Series X in 2022, but the online multiplayer mode is also making the transition. This time around, Rockstar Games is releasing Grand Theft Auto Online as a standalone game, meaning players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will be able to access it without paying for the single-player game. Pricing information and how exactly that all will work are unavailable at this time, but more information should come to light as we get closer to the game's launch.
Grand Theft Auto Online's next-gen upgrades similarly haven't been detailed by Rockstar, but general performance enhancements seem like a given. How exactly the PS5 and Xbox Series X version of Grand Theft Auto Online stacks up remains to be seen, but fans will find out sooner rather than later. The current plan is for the new version of Grand Theft Auto Online is also launching March 2022, with it set to become available alongside the single-player release.
And finally, the third game that Rockstar Games has confirmed for 2022 is yet another Grand Theft Auto title. The highly controversial Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is launching for Android and iOS mobile devices at an undetermined point in 2022. The GTA Trilogy had an incredibly rough launch, earning some of the lowest review scores in the history of games published by Rockstar, with fans upset over its art style, glitches, and an endless list of technical issues in general.
Android and iOS devices aren't nearly as powerful as home consoles or PCs, so one has to imagine that the Android and iOS versions have a tough road ahead of them. Then again, it's possible that these versions of the game will be able to avoid some of the pitfalls that the console version did, as the developers now know of some of the more egregious problems that need ironed out before the collection is released on mobile.
Rockstar's Next Game
Re-releases of older games will be enough to satisfy some Rockstar Games fans, but it's safe to say that the majority of its fans are ready to see what's next from the studio. Rockstar Games has not provided any kind of announcement about the next game it's making, but whatever it is, fans shouldn't expect to play it this year. However, even though it's highly unlikely that the next Rockstar Games title will be playable this year, there is a chance that fans will at least get to see it in some capacity.
There are rumors that Rockstar Games will reveal its next project at some point later in 2022. Whether or not there's any truth to those claims is up for debate, but assuming Rockstar does indeed reveal its new game, the next question is: what is Rockstar's next game? The most obvious answer is Grand Theft Auto 6, as that is clearly the game that's in the highest demand, but there are other possibilities as well.
Rumors have been swirling lately that Rockstar Games may be moving forward with a Bully sequel instead. Rockstar has reportedly pursued a Bully sequel multiple times in the years since the original game launched, only for plans to be scrapped and the game to be canceled. If the rumors are true, maybe Rockstar Games has finally figured out what it wants to do with a Bully sequel and that will indeed be its next game.
If the next Rockstar Games title isn't Bully 2, then one has to imagine that it has to be Grand Theft Auto 6 as opposed to a sequel to any of Rockstar's other franchises. Reputable sources have leaked details about Grand Theft Auto 6 and Rockstar's ambitious plans for the game. If those leaks are accurate, then it seems fans can count on Grand Theft Auto 6 being set in Vice City, with both male and female protagonists, and an evolving map.
While the Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks have come from reputable sources, it's always best to take information about unreleased games with a grain of salt. It's entirely possible that Rockstar's plans for the game have changed, and so the final product could wind up looking a lot different from what leakers are expecting. Regardless, fans won't know for sure what Grand Theft Auto 6 has in store for them until Rockstar Games shows it off, and it's really anyone's guess as to when that may be.
In the meantime, Take-Two's latest financial reports indicate that the Rockstar Games parent company is expecting Grand Theft Auto 6 to release by March 2024. If that's the game's deadline, then perhaps a Grand Theft Auto 6 release date in late 2023 isn't entirely out of the question. And if that's the case, then a reveal for the game taking place in 2022 would make sense. However, this is all just speculation at this time and fans shouldn't hold their breath for a GTA 6 reveal this year. Or a reveal for any new Rockstar Games title, for that matter.
