Summary
Rumors and discussion surroundingGrand Theft Auto 6have been consistent for a decade at this point, with many considering the title to be one of the most anticipated releases of all time. While the franchise as a whole is quite prestigious, this level of hype can primarily be attributed to the intense and longstanding success ofGrand Theft Auto 5.
LikeGrand Theft Auto 6, similar amounts of anticipation are already being placed on the next major project by FromSoftware thanks to the massive popularity behind 2022’sElden Ring. With this in mind, it is clear thatGTA 6and the next big FromSoftware title find themselves in the same bittersweet predicament.
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Grand Theft Auto 6 and the Next FromSoftware Game: Suffering From Success
First releasing in 2013, the financial and cultural success ofGrand Theft Auto 5most likely surpassed even the most hopeful ambitions Rockstar had for the game prior to launch. This is best evidenced inGTA 5’s sales figures, with the title having reportedly sold close to 200 million copies over the past ten years. This sitsGrand Theft Auto 5as the second best-selling game of all time, being locked in a close battle withMojang’s mega sandbox titleMinecraftfor the top spot.
This success is largely down to the huge innovations thatGTA 5made over 2008’sGTA 4, boasting a much larger map, thrice as many protagonists, and a much more informed multiplayer mode.GTA Onlinein particular was a huge post-launch boost for the title, with the recent explosion in its role-playing scene making it an extremely popular experience to this day.
Elden Ringemployed the same improvements over preceding FromSoftware titles in its bid to wow its player-base, with its own map and story being much larger than past entries. A truly record-breaking title,Elden Ringreceived over 300 awards across the gaming industry, with many now considering it to be the defining experience within the souls-like genre.
While Rockstar and FromSoftware have enjoyedthe attractive benefits ofGTA 5andElden Ring’s reception, both companies now find themselves at the same crossroads for any follow-up projects. With the likes ofGTA 5andElden Ringbeing considered “perfect” experiences for their respective genres, it is going to be extremely difficult to recreate this while wowing fans in the same way withGTA 6and the next major FromSoftware title.
Despite being wildly different gaming experiences,GTA 5andElden Ringare the flagship releases for Rockstar and FromSoftware which have only increased the fan expectations surrounding any future games. It is already all-but-confirmed thatGrand Theft Auto 6has chosen to wind-down its main characters to twoas opposed toGTA 5’s three, while compensating for this with more locations for players to explore. FromSoftware will have to make similar difficult decisions in the pursuit of its next project, likely winding down the scale of certain aspects ofElden Ringto make room for improvements in other areas.
While these issues are only a reflection of the craftsmanship and success of past titles, it is a significant problem that will loom over both studios throughout the development of future big experiences. Unless Rockstar and FromSoftware want to be defined byGTA 5andElden Ring, both companies face the mammoth task of needing to match and excel beyond any past points of success to keep fans engaged and wanting more.
Grand Theft Auto 6is currently in development.
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