Is the Extended Development of GTA 6 Due to a Full Engine Overhaul? The Truth is Likely More Complex.
Welcome to the debut of Stealing Cars, a monthly column focused on all things Grand Theft Auto and Rockstar Games. In this first edition, we’ll dive into some intriguing speculation about Grand Theft Auto 6 from a former Rockstar developer, along with fresh insights from the recent GTA IV beta build leak. Plus, we’ve got some unfortunate news for Game Pass subscribers and one of the wildest rumors about GTA 6 you’ll ever hear.
The anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6 has been intense, especially since GTA V has been around for over a decade. Fans are eager to know what’s causing the delay. There are plenty of theories floating around! Some suggest that remote work has slowed development, while others believe the game’s expanding scope is making it harder for Rockstar to manage the project.
A new theory from Rob Carr, a former audio engineer at Rockstar who contributed to GTA and L.A. Noire, suggests that Rockstar has essentially “rebuilt” its proprietary Rage engine, which has powered its open-world titles since GTA IV. This insight comes from an interview he had on a YouTube channel.
“I know nothing about [GTA 6],” Carr stated during the podcast. “But given the time it’s taken to reach this point, they’ve likely rebuilt the entire Rage Engine.” He added, “That’s the only thing I can say with real, genuine confidence.”
Carr also noted, “I’d be surprised if they didn’t, considering how much technology has advanced since GTA V, which was three generations ago.”
I reached out to some contacts and received a mixed response from someone familiar with Rockstar. They didn’t dispute Carr’s claims but mentioned that Rockstar often blends technology, and the version of Rage for GTA 6 builds on work done for both GTA V and Red Dead Redemption II. Carr seems to agree, hinting that GTA 6 may incorporate features from RDR2, which aligns with Rockstar’s history of sharing code and engine tech across projects.
While it’s likely that the Rage Engine has seen updates and enhancements, it may not be entirely accurate to say it’s a complete rebuild. Could the ongoing updates to Rage be a reason for the delay in GTA 6? It’s possible. Game development is complex, and many factors are at play. Here’s hoping Rockstar hits its November release target later this year.
In the November 2007 beta build of GTA IV, there were plans for an open theme park called Funland, as discovered by a user. The separation of the Liberty Eye and cart models suggests that Rockstar intended for them to be rideable or at least animated.
People are still digging through files from an old Xbox 360 dev kit containing a beta build of GTA IV. Recent findings include theme park rides that imply Rockstar had plans for players to experience them in-game.
Former Rockstar developer Obbe Vermeij mentioned that he doesn’t recall any plans for this feature, but the way the leaked assets are constructed suggests that the rides at Funland were indeed meant to be functional. This concept eventually made its way into GTA V, where players can enjoy rollercoaster rides.
On another note, Rockstar is once again pulling GTA V from Xbox Game Pass, a trend that has become oddly routine. Like clockwork, the game is added to Game Pass only to be removed months later. This time, it managed to stay for a year after being added in April 2025, marking the longest duration it’s been available on the service. Previously, it has only lasted about six months. You have until April 15 to enjoy GTA V and GTA Online via Game Pass before you’ll need to purchase it or wait to see if it returns.
While sifting through rumors about GTA 6, I come across many that seem plausible but can be easily debunked. Some are so outlandish that they can be dismissed with a bit of logic, like claims that this installment will feature interiors for every building. Spoiler alert: that’s not happening.
A new rumor from a long-standing UK rumor outlet claims that the delay of GTA 6 isn’t due to its size or a major engine overhaul. Instead, it suggests that the developer responsible for the game’s save and load features was laid off, leaving that crucial function broken. Even more bizarre, the rumor states that early versions of GTA 6 were not designed with saving and loading in mind, making it a complex task that requires highly specialized technical skills to implement.
I’m sharing this absurdity purely for a laugh, so you can explain to anyone who brings it up that it’s complete nonsense! From what I gather, GTA 6 does indeed have saving and loading features. Shocking, I know!
Or maybe sooner…? We’re still figuring that out. If you have a better name for this recurring newsletter about GTA, feel free to share your ideas!
