Current Events > "Grand Theft Auto 6 could be first AAAAA game"

(+) Yeah! (+)

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI stands alone as a "AAAAA" game, according to Devolver Digital co-founder Nigel Lowrie. He said in an interview that nothing can touch the GTA series when it comes to the "scope and scale" of the popular open-world crime series.

"I mean, there are AAA games and then there's AAAA games and I'd argue that Grand Theft Auto is potentially the AAAAA game; it's just bigger than anything else both in the scope and scale of the game and the kind of cultural impact that it has and the attention it demands," Lowrie told IGN.

Before this, Ubisoft referred to Skull & Bones as a "AAAA" game, a comment that led to many memes and jokes.

Lowrie commented on GTA 6 against the backdrop of Devolver considering whether or not it would delay some of its games to get out of the way of GTA 6 when it was planned for a 2025 release. He said GTA 6 was "blinding" when it came to the calendar. It remains to be seen if Devolver will delay any games due to GTA 6.

In a cheeky social media post, the company said it would, in fact, launch a game on the same day as GTA 6. Devolver recently delayed Baby Steps due to Silksong, and while some have questioned that decision, Lowrie said he didn't want to gamble with people's livelihoods.

"You can't AB test reality," he said. "Maybe Baby Steps would've just been fine September 8, it could have been. But am I willing to risk this team's livelihood and the future of the game they've worked on for five years to see if they both work out? I'm not. And I also want to listen to what they want, and what they want is to have their own spotlight and I couldn't agree more."

Going back to GTA 6, Adam Lieb, the CEO of marketing platform Gamesight, told IGN that GTA 6 has had an outsized effect on calendars and planning for video game companies.

"I would say that GTA for the last year and a half has been a part of almost every conversation around launch dates I have heard," Lieb said.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that when GTA 6 was delayed to 2026, some studios with games set for Fall 2025--the previous launch window for GTA 6--embraced the news, with others scrambling to make decisions for their own 2026 games.

GTA 6 is expected to perform exceptionally upon release, with one firm predicting it will sell 40 million copies and drive $3 billion in revenue in the first year alone. The game has gigantic shoes to fill, as GTA 5 has sold more than 215 million copies.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-is-the-first-aaaaa-game-industry-veteran-says/1100-6534474/

We already are on 5 A's? Did we even have a quadruple A game? I remember hearing they were coming but I don't know what games qualify as that

I dislike anyone who would say that.

Zikten posted...

We already are on 5 A's? Did we even have a quadruple A game? I remember hearing they were coming but I don't know what games qualify as that

that shitty ubisoft pirate game was a AAAA game

/s

I think AAAA would be totally fair for Rockstar. Skull and Bones is obviously not and Rockstar is so far above everyone else in terms of production value (and cost). RDR2 is still the most impressive open world and that came out like 7 years ago.

At this point do the people in charge just add more As because of tradition or what? Like what does AAAAA even mean mister CEO man?

You'd think it would be a horror game to get that honor first.

I didnt realize Dave Meltzer was rating games now. GTA6 being made in the Tokyo Dome, too?

Is it weird I never played 5?

Smiffwilm posted...

You'd think it would be a horror game to get that honor first.

This is gonna be underappreciated.

sabin017 posted...

Is it weird I never played 5?

Not weird if you aren't really a fan of the series which you obviously aren't. Despite its immense popularity there is still a ton of people who aren't really into it so it happens quite a bit. As a big fan of the series though 5 was really good.

vigorm0rtis posted...

This is gonna be underappreciated.

I blew a little more air from my nose than usual

AAAAA

We have completely lost the thread now.

Final Fantasy 6 RemAAAAAAke

ToadallyAwesome posted...

At this point do the people in charge just add more As because of tradition or what? Like what does AAAAA even mean mister CEO man?

The first AAAAAA game came out years ago

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/856131e7.jpg

https://store.steampowered.com/app/15520/AaAaAA__A_Reckless_Disregard_for_Gravity/

Did y'all actually read the article? It comes across as more of a joking reference to how utterly GTA eclipses other video games.

Don't know how Skull & Bones can claim to be "AAAA" when it was such a commercial and critical flop....

Maybe he's just not great at reading and thought it said "GT6A"

Skyrazer posted...

Don't know how Skull & Bones can claim to be "AAAA" when it was such a commercial and critical flop....

It's a matter of budget and publishing. Has nothing to do with quality.

Concord and Skyrim are both AAA games.

After being in production for 30 years it should be the first SSS game.

Skyrazer posted...

Don't know how Skull & Bones can claim to be "AAAA" when it was such a commercial and critical flop....

iirc, it was largely because of its development costs.

I forget which country (Malaysia?), but one also heavily contributed.

edit: it was Singapore.

That was already Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

It's the founder of Devolver Digital exaggerating on how much bigger in scope GTA6 is compared to indie games. It's not like this was a quote from Rockstar or some press release.

Zikten posted...

We already are on 5 A's? Did we even have a quadruple A game? I remember hearing they were coming but I don't know what games qualify as that

Skull & Bones.

So given the first AAAA game that means we can prepare for this to be a terrible disappointment?

Seriously though the gaming industry is just non-stop nonsense lately.

i really truly hope the game fails hard. rockstar has been pushing shit for years now.

No

pegusus123456 posted...

Did y'all actually read the article? It comes across as more of a joking reference to how utterly GTA eclipses other video games.

I immediately thought it was said jokingly because it's from Devolver Digital. They've been leaning in on being a "nonserious" publisher for a few years.

Well at least it ain't rockstar saying it

Dark_twisted posted...

Well at least it ain't rockstar saying it

no, but they're probably paying these journalists to hype the game up more and more so people aren't scared off by the high sticker price. they'll probably make this the first $100 base game.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/6278efd2.jpg

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

It's guaranteed to do absolute fucking numbers but based on leaks and what little we know there's a chance it'll be polarizing, critically

Why not add another A so you can have 6 for GTA6