Grand Theft Auto fans have been speculating about where the next game could take players for years. London has always been touted as a potential location, as the first-ever expansion pack in the much-loved franchise took players to the English capital.
Rockstar Games still has its British studio, Rockstar North, which has been heavily involved with the franchise. Therefore, speculation that it could return to Blighty is justified. Now, it has been revealed by an industry insider that GTA 6 could well involve some missions in the city.
Gamers Crying Out for More London-Based Games
The original Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 was a hugely influential game. The 1997 offering was one of the first titles ever to give players a chance to explore the iconic city. It featured a classic retro 1960s sound and various legendary British cars from the era. At the time, though, computer graphics were still rudimentary compared to what’s on offer now. That’s why players have been desperate to return to the city on today’s generation of consoles.
Since the release of the Rockstar Canada game, there have been more titles that give players a taste of London. One of the best of these was The Getaway from Team Soho. The 2002 offering was clearly inspired by GTA, along with iconic British gangster films like Snatch. The game was hugely popular and inspired a spinoff, The Getaway: Black Monday in 2004.
There have been a few other games in recent times with a London setting, highlighting the city’s popularity among gamers. For instance, there’s the London Underground Simulator that allows players to either drive trains or travel on them as a passenger. There are also titles in the online bingo sector, such as the much-loved Megaways offering, Cops ‘N’ Robbers Megaways. It features a silhouette of the city on the thumbnail, with Big Ben clearly visible. There’s also the Beat the Bobbies: Tower of London slot, which is one of the top games in the slots market.
Industry Insider Reveals London Setting
There hasn’t been an official announcement from Rockstar Games about GTA 6 yet, but we do know that it’s on the way. That’s thanks to a leak last year, which is regarded as one of the biggest in gaming history. Hackers managed to find detailed game footage that revealed characters and settings. Experts were able to deduce that Vice City will be one of the main locations for the upcoming game.
The game is going to be the most ambitious one ever in the franchise, and its story could span way beyond Vice City. Indeed, gaming expert Michael Pachter believes that the new title will include four cities. One of these is most likely to be London, giving players a chance to see the Rockstar Games vision of the city in the modern age with high-quality graphics.
It’s hard to say when the next GTA game will be released yet. However, when it does, it is likely to please Londoners greatly. For the first time in more than 25 years, the franchise could be returning to the English capital.