Former Rockstar Games producer John Ricchio has shared his expectations for Grand Theft Auto 6, saying he believes the upcoming title will continue Rockstar’s tradition of delivering increasingly ambitious open worlds.
Having worked on GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption, and Max Payne 3, Ricchio said he expects GTA 6 to be significantly larger—or at least far more detailed—than its predecessor.
Former GTA 5 producer expects GTA 6 to be Rockstar’s biggest world yet
Speaking with Kiwi Talkz, Ricchio reflected on Rockstar’s approach to game development, noting that each new Grand Theft Auto entry has expanded on the last.
“I can only imagine the size of GTA 6. Like it must be monstrous. Or if not monstrous, it’s probably way more detailed.”
Ricchio explained that GTA 5 was “significantly bigger than GTA 4,” adding that Rockstar consistently increased the scope of its worlds across both the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption franchises. According to him, the growing scale helps players feel immersed, saying it
“really does make you feel like you’re in a place.”
Despite praising Rockstar’s achievements, Ricchio admitted he doesn’t envy the team currently developing GTA 6.
“I’m pretty happy that I’m not on GTA 6.”
He explained that creating games of this scale requires an enormous amount of work and can be one of the most demanding periods of a developer’s career. Even so, Ricchio said seeing fans enjoy the finished product is “magic” and “so rewarding.”
Rockstar Games is currently developing Grand Theft Auto 6, which is scheduled to launch on May 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
