GTA 6: Even Original Creators Are in the Dark

As the gaming world counts down to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, the game's original creators find themselves in an unexpected position: they are just as eager as the rest of us to see what developer Rockstar Games has been working on. Dave Jones and Brian Baglow, the minds behind the 1997 classic that started it all, have not been given early access to the highly anticipated sequel.

A Long Wait for Fans and Creators Alike

After 13 years since the last main installment, two delays, and a series of leaks, GTA 6 is almost here. The game introduces new protagonists Jason and Lucia, with Lucia becoming the first playable female character in the 3D era. The anticipation is unprecedented, and Rockstar has kept details tightly under wraps. Even Jones and Baglow, who helped bring the original to life, are waiting to see the final product.

"We're all waiting to see what they've done," Jones says, sitting next to Baglow, the original game's writer and publicist. Baglow admits he hasn't played the new game yet, but he's not complaining. "I've got the pre-order," he says with a smile.

From Dundee to Global Phenomenon

The original Grand Theft Auto was released in 1997 by DMA Design, a small studio in Dundee, Scotland. After the success of the puzzle game Lemmings, the team was experimenting with a racing game called Race'n'Chase. Jones recalls that they wanted to do something different. "What was the unique spin we could put on it?" he asks. The answer came from a simple idea: "just getting out of the car." That mechanic, allowing players to switch and steal cars and run around on foot, created an interesting mix of gaming styles.

The team initially considered letting players be both a criminal and a police officer, but they soon realized that playing as the bad guy was more fun. Despite its novel approach, the game was a slow burn in sales compared to Lemmings, partly because it had to be played to be understood. "For the whole of the year that GTA came out, it just kept going and selling and selling," Baglow says. "We reckoned it was the word of mouth. The people who had played it going, oh my God, have you played this game?"

Controversy and Satire

The game's themes of criminality and violence sparked controversy, leading to debates in the UK Parliament and calls for a ban. However, it later emerged that much of the controversy was generated by the game's own publisher, BMG Interactive, as a viral marketing stunt. "We just did things that we felt were fun," Jones says. "We never at any point kind of thought, should we do that? Is it controversial? We never thought that way."

Despite its basic top-down 2D view, the original game forged the blueprint for the series' signature satire. Set in an exaggerated version of American cities, its Scottish humor and outsider perspective shone through. "It's a deeply satirical game," says Keza MacDonald, video games editor at The Guardian. "It really takes aim at the hyper-individualist, hyper-capitalist nature of the US." Partly out of necessity due to a low budget, the team created cheeky brand names and fake radio stations, elements that Baglow is most proud of. "It's the business names, it's the radio stations, it's the lyrics, it's the DJs," he says. "Every part of that is making you believe that this environment you're in is a big cohesive whole."

A Cultural Behemoth

When GTA V launched in 2013, it made $1bn in just three days, faster than any entertainment product at the time. The series has become a cultural reference point, recognized and referenced outside gaming. "I've seen movies where someone says 'don't go all GTA on me'... it was just surreal," Jones says. MacDonald notes that while earlier GTAs took inspiration from cinema, films are now more influenced by GTA. She says later titles have a cinematic feel but also reflect the series' distinct identity.

Jones believes the game's success lies in its grounding in real life. "It's not like a lot of games like sci-fi or adventure or fantasy," he says. "There's nothing you have to learn about it, as long as you know a city and driving."

GTA 6 is expected to surpass its predecessor in every way, from scale and scope to revenue. PlayStation and Xbox have both reported that the game is the most pre-ordered title in their digital stores' history. The huge file size of 212GB has prompted many to pre-order to pre-load the game, ready to play immediately at launch. "Everyone is extremely excited for this," MacDonald says. "It's hoping to be a shot in the arm for the general games industry, but also every player is looking to see what Rockstar's been doing for all this time."

As for Jones and Baglow, they have no regrets about moving on. "I think everybody loves having their time on it, for one, two, three versions," Jones says. "But eventually you want to go off and do other things as well." Baglow adds that watching the world fall in love with the game over the last 29 years has been joyful. "It means so much to so many people - it's been fantastic."