Popverse's top stories

• Netflix loses its Black Mirror creators as Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones have used a loophole to get out of their exclusive deal with the streamer
• 3 essential Superman stories to watch or read after seeing the new James Gunn movie from DC Studios [FYC]
• Netflix Wakfu fans rejoice: Ogrest graphic novel prequel hits Kickstarter July 15

When news broke that Grand Theft Auto VI had been delayed to 2026, it was something that, considering the fact Rockstar hadn’t released anything more than some character descriptions, fans had been half-expecting for a while. GTA VI is going to be a massive game, both in scale and in terms of sales, and the glimpse of the story we’ve had so far gives me hope that it won’t disappoint. However, the real test for how much I enjoy GTA VI is going to be not in the story or the combat but in how much fun I have driving around.

Like many gamers of a certain age, I sunk hours into what is often called the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy on PlayStation 2. Most of that time wasn’t spent on missions or fighting with the police or anything to do with the plot. Honestly, the thing I most often did was simply drive around the city, whether that was Liberty City, Vice City, or San Andreas, and take in the sights. In my opinion, if Grand Theft Auto VI makes me want to use the inevitable fast-travel feature, it will feel like a failure in my eyes. 

That is going to sound harsh, but hear me out; you can levy plenty of criticism against Rockstar. Their combat is always the least interesting part of any of their games and their dialogue can be wooden and filled with tropes, but no one can make a setting feel alive quite like they can. While Red Dead Redemption 2 is possibly their greatest achievement in that regard, the Grand Theft Auto series has always had cities that were packed with activity. They’ve always felt so alive that they were as important to the story as the characters themselves. 

Every night, I used to load up one of the Grand Theft Auto games on my PS2 – my personal favorite was always Vice City because I love me an 80s jam – and just.. drive. Sometimes it was a long drive, especially when you got into Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, which took place over a whole state, but that was part of the fun for me. Rather, it was part of the immersion to me. I could put on my radio station of choice and watch the whole world pass me by. For me, GTA can be summed up as listening to How Bizzare by OMC. Just absolute chill vibes all around until I lightly nudge a police car and everything is suddenly very not chill.

By all accounts, GTA VI is going to be the largest game in the series, likely larger than even Red Dead Redemption 2 in terms of map size. It looks like we’ll have a good chunk of a state to play in, which is going to make it more tempting to hit the fast-travel button when going from place to place. But that is where the challenge lies for Rockstar. They need to populate the world with enough to see and do and hear that I don’t feel like I’ll slip into the temptation to skip over the gorgeous world they’ve created. 

It is difficult, but it is possible. Marvel’s Spider-Man and its various spin-offs and sequels presented us with the full glory of New York City to travel across, but Insomniac made web swinging so intuitive and fun that I never even considered using the fast-travel mechanic. Similarly, Batman: Arkham City made me feel like I was the Dark Knight swooping from building to building. I never missed the ability to quickly jump from one side of the map to the other, something that couldn’t be said for Batman: Arkham Knight.

Like many people, I don’t mind that we’ve still got a long wait to play GTA VI; there is a huge legacy riding on the game and Rockstar is right not to rush it out the door just because it is likely to make them a mountain of cash. The longer they spend on it, the more they can cram more into that massive open world. The more real they can make it feel as I cruise along the streets and over the Everglades, the more I’m going to love the game. 

Sure, I’m excited about the apparent romance between the two new main characters and I’m excited to see how Rockstar updates their shooting systems for the current generation of consoles, but really, I’m just looking forward to driving around, listening to music, without wasting a fortune on gas.

You don't need to beat the game to prepare for the next one—here are all the major new and upcoming games coming our way.