As fans worldwide continue to count down to the long-awaited release of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6, rumors and speculations about what the game may look and play like continue to build.
Meanwhile, gamers aren’t the only ones excited about the sequel’s release. A European retailer recently nearly broke the Internet for posting a listing that potentially leaked the game’s price. While there’s still no official confirmation of GTA 6’s pricing, the now-removed listing stated it would cost roughly $114.99. The news quickly emerged amidst discussions that Rockstar may be charging more than the standard $70 for the new GTA title.
While the listing is likely just a placeholder, gamers have rightfully been on edge about the current state of video game pricing. The Nintendo Switch 2 reveal and its premium pricing only continue to fuel the rumors that Rockstar may be going beyond the standardized $70 price tag.
In GTA 6’s defense, the years-long wait for the game may mean that gamers will likely purchase the game regardless of how much it may cost. The record-breaking trailer for the game quickly became the most viewed video game trailer and has been broken down, frame-by-frame, by fans again and again for clues of what they may find in the game.
What fans want to see in GTA 6
As the yet-unconfirmed release date for the game looms closer, new discussions of what long-time fans want to see in the game prop up every other week. Aside from the clear graphical upgrades demonstrated in the trailer, fans also expect a richer open world and better running in the gameplay, drawing from the details of the world of Rockstar’s other gem, Red Dead Redemption 2.
One of the best ways to make an in-game world come to life is to give players endless things to do beyond the main story and missions. Some GTA 6 features that fans are eager to see include more expansive and in-depth casino minigames like poker, as the predecessor, Grand Theft Auto 5, only offered the more fast-paced three-card poker.
Mirroring developments in the real world, some fans also expect to see some form of cryptocurrency incorporated into the game, from parodied crypto scams and heists to the ability to own or trade crypto. There are also sillier features fans expect to see in the game, including a Phil Collins return to Vice City — the perfect Easter egg for those who played Vice City Stories on the PS2 or the sorely missed PlayStation Portable.
Poker and other minigames
Fans are especially hoping to see richer minigames in GTA 6 as an improvement from GTA 5’s offerings, which included odd activities like yoga and tennis. The Diamond Casino & Resort, while a great destination for heists, only offers three-card poker, blackjack, roulette, and a bunch of slot machines.
If the game is to follow traditional online poker and replicate real life models in GTA 6’s in-game elements, the popularity of US online poker is a great blueprint to follow as it is currently seeing significant growth. For instance, ACR Poker is the #1 US poker site thanks to its thriving community of pros, ambassadors, Twitch streamers, and much more. ACR Poker is also widely known for its online tournaments, such as The Venom and its newly announced Supersized Sunday and Must-Play Mondays.
If GTA 6 wants to add a layer of realism to its open-world structure, it would make sense to let players play poker from their in-game phones rather than driving to the casino. The GTA 6 trailer already shows that Rockstar will feature a parodied TikTok social media system in the game, so online poker may not be entirely out of the question.
Meanwhile, poker in Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the more in-depth and realistic poker gameplay in video games. Throughout Red Dead’s open world, players can visit different types of casinos with different buy-in tiers. For example, the casino at St. Denis gives the highest payouts, while the Valentine saloon is great if you’d prefer lower stakes. If the rumored map for GTA 6 is as big as the leaks indicate, a similar casino system will be interesting to see.
Beyond casino games like poker, rumors and leaks also point to various in-game activities for GTA 6. There are rumors of a fishing minigame, which was also present in Red Dead, as well as golf and races, which were also in GTA 5. Dedicated fans are also expecting GTA 6 to draw inspiration from 2004’s GTA: San Andreas, which featured activities like dancing, pool, casinos, gym workouts, basketball, and arcade machines.
Until then, however, we’ll have to wait for further news and updates from Rockstar Games on GTA 6’s release. For now, we know that the GTA 6 console release will likely lead the release schedule as Rockstar focuses on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S platforms. Other platforms, like PC and even Nintendo Switch, are still to be confirmed. It took a while for GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 to release on PC after their console launches, and it’ll more than likely be the same for GTA 6.