"Ex-Rockstar Dev: No More GTA 6 Trailers Needed Due to High Hype"

As the anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6 continues to build following the release of Trailer 1 in 2023, a former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, has suggested that he would not release any more trailers before the game's launch. Vermeij, who served as a technical director on the series until 2008's Grand Theft Auto 4, believes that the existing hype surrounding GTA 6 is sufficient, and that maintaining an element of surprise could enhance the excitement at the game's release.

Rockstar released GTA 6 Trailer 1 to record-breaking viewership in December 2023, but since then, no further assets have been released. This prolonged wait has fueled a range of conspiracy theories among fans, from analyzing the number of holes in Lucia’s cell door and the bullet holes in a car from Trailer 1, to deciphering registration plates. The most notable theory, the ongoing "moon watch," accurately predicted the announcement date for Trailer 1 but was debunked as a hint at the release date for Trailer 2.

The big question on everyone's mind is when *GTA 6 Trailer 2* will be released. Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick hinted that fans might have to wait until much closer to the game’s release date, currently set for fall 2025, for their next glimpse of the highly anticipated title.

Vermeij expressed his view on social media, stating, “If it was my call I wouldn’t release any additional trailers. There is more than enough hype around VI and the element of surprise is going to make the release only bigger as an event.” In response to a suggestion that Rockstar might only announce the GTA 6 release date without further trailers, Vermeij called it a "boss move."

Rockstar's decision to label the first trailer as "GTA 6 Trailer 1" implies that more trailers might follow. However, Vermeij's insights into Rockstar's past practices, such as the delay of GTA 4 just three months before its original release date, suggest that "decision day" for GTA 6 could be similarly close to the planned release date. He noted, "Only at that time did it become clear we were going to miss the deadline. I’m guessing decision-day for VI will be similar. Fingers crossed for Take2’s August earnings report."

99 Details in the GTA 6 Trailer - Slideshow

View 51 ImagesIn a March interview with Bloomberg, Zelnick explained the secrecy around GTA 6's release date, saying, “The anticipation for that title may be the greatest anticipation I’ve ever seen for an entertainment property. We want to maintain the anticipation and the excitement... We do have competitors who will describe their release schedule for years in advance. And we found that the better thing to do is to provide marketing materials relatively close to the release window in order to create that excitement on the one hand and balance the excitement with unmet anticipation.”

Mike York, a former animator at Rockstar New England who worked on Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, shared on his YouTube channel that Rockstar is intentionally stoking conspiracy theories by remaining silent about GTA 6 and the release of Trailer 2. He believes this strategy is designed to generate buzz and engagement within the community. York stated, “They're reaching and pulling and trying to come up with these really cool theories to decipher when the next trailer will be... Specifically Rockstar, they're very secretive about what they do, and this is a really cool tactic because it creates allure and it creates mystery and it creates people talking about it without them having to do anything.”

Will You Continue to Play GTA Online When GTA 6 Comes Out? ----------------------------------------------------------

Yes! I'm happy with the original GTA OnlineNo! Time to move on to whatever's nextIt depends (tell us why in the comments!)

AnswerSee ResultsYork further explained that Rockstar's silence is a deliberate marketing tactic that encourages fans to create and discuss theories, thereby increasing the game's visibility and excitement without any additional effort from the company. He remarked, “They could easily release the trailer date and be like, ‘Hey this is when the trailer's coming out,’ but they don't do it. And they don't do it on purpose because it's a really, really good marketing tactic. If you think about it, it creates these really cool theories... This brings the fans together.”

Zelnick's comments also suggest that if GTA 6 Trailer 2 exists, it won't be released until closer to the game's fall 2025 release date, assuming no delays. As fans eagerly await more news, they can explore IGN's coverage on various related topics, including an ex-Rockstar dev's prediction that the studio might not decide on a delay for GTA 6 until May 2025, Zelnick’s response to concerns about the future of GTA Online once GTA 6 is released, and whether the PS5 Pro will be able to run GTA 6 at 60 frames per second.