GTA VI release and Grand Theft Auto franchise history, Digi Mart USA News: The Grand Theft Auto franchise, a cultural phenomenon that is also a subject of controversy and a major revenue generator, is preparing to launch a new installment on November 19. The launch of GTA VI represents a major financial stake for the American studio Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive.
Here are five things to know about the series.
The GTA series, whose history begins in 1997, takes its name from the term for aggravated car theft under the California Penal Code. In a video game world where players usually take on the roles of heroes, knights or soldiers, its promise of placing the player in the shoes of a criminal causing chaos in a city has appealed to players.
In 2001, the third installment set the reference point: a 3D world to explore, sophisticated graphics and a gameplay style praised by critics and fans, particularly for its freedom of action. Since then, every installment has been acclaimed by the industry and players.
Released in 2013, GTA V earned a score of 97 out of 100 on the review aggregator Metacritic and continues to rank among the best-selling games each year.
At its release, GTA V generated more than $1 billion in three days, a figure reached faster than any other entertainment product in history, according to Take-Two. The game has sold more than 230 million copies, and the series as a whole more than 475 million, according to the company’s results published in August.
GTA V is thus the second best-selling game of all time, behind Minecraft.
Even without a new installment in more than a decade, the brand generates about $500 million each year, driven in particular by its online mode. Regularly updated, GTA Online still attracts nearly 15 million monthly players in 2026, who spend real money on virtual items.
The franchise’s revenues exceed $10 billion.
The series has weathered its share of controversy, regularly accused of glorifying violence and encouraging criminal behavior, accusations Take-Two has rejected. The game has also been criticized for what is considered a misogynistic portrayal of women, caricatures of ethnic minorities and torture scenes.
Praised by some for its satire pushed to the extreme, the game has been banned or restricted in several countries. In 2014, the retailer Target Australia stopped selling GTA V, citing customer concerns.
In France, most episodes of the series are not recommended for those under 18.
Despite opposition, GTA has become a cultural institution, both a subject of online memes and a popular reference. As its notoriety grew, the series attracted well-known names from entertainment.
Actor Ray Liotta voiced the main character of GTA: Vice City, released in 2002. Other stars such as Samuel L.
Jackson, Burt Reynolds, musician Phil Collins and comedian Ricky Gervais have appeared in the games. The French electronic duo Justice composed the soundtrack for GTA VI, while an album built around the game’s universe brings together major music industry names such as rapper Travis Scott and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.
Originally scheduled for fall 2025, the release of GTA VI was pushed back to late May 2026, and then to November 19. The event is considered so significant that Take-Two’s competitors avoided major launches in the same period, moving many releases to September and October.
GTA VI is set in the fictional state of Leonida, inspired by Florida and Miami, centered on the fictional city of Vice City, which was already the setting of a previous installment.
The story centers on a couple of former convicts, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, the latter being the first playable female protagonist in the main series. According to several estimates, development costs for the new installment range between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, which would make it the most expensive product in entertainment history, cinema included, after more than eight years of work.
