Rockstar broke the internet in December 2023, and now that nearly a year has passed since the initial trailer, Grand Theft Auto fans are itching to find out more about the landmark next chapter. By every conceivable metric, it’s hard to imagine any game will generate the sales or social media engagement that Grand Theft Auto VI managed just from the first trailer.
One can only speculate on how much of a fever-pitch level this excitement will reach once there’s another trailer or an actual release date. There are many things we could see from GTA VI that build on some of the initial ideas we saw in classic titles Vice City and San Andreas and that were cemented and modernized in GTA V when it first hit stores in 2013.
Casino Gaming Innovations In GTA VI
It’s hard to speculate with Rockstar; they’ve got such a proven track record of pushing the envelope far beyond any expectations and the possibility of gaming capability that there are very few innovations we could categorically rule out. It’s been 20 years since the release of their watershed title, San Andreas, which many believe is the greatest of all GTA games.
That release, spread across three islands, expanded game design possibilities forever. Las Venturas, the third and final island you could unlock during the story mode, contained nearly a dozen virtual gambling establishments where you could go in and play casino games, such as roulette.
The casino idea was expanded on in GTA V online, offering all the same possibilities. With the growth the casino industry has experienced in the decade since GTA V and GTA VI, many believe casino gaming will be one of the enhancements we should expect to see in GTA VI.
Online roulette has become a multi-billion dollar industry, expanding considerably over the last ten years. Hence, the idea that GTA could build on its previous roulette ideas by incorporating some element of online gambling or alternate payments isn’t farfetched.
A Release Date For The Second Trailer?
GTA V had a year’s gap between the release of the first trailer and the second one, and as we come up to the 12-month anniversary of the landmark GTA VI trailer, and with the game still set for release in 2025 - it feels like the second trailer is imminent.
That said, Rockstar is remaining tight-lipped. Although several influencers and individuals on social media piece together click-bait titles about the release date of a second trailer and everything that will be in it, we are still none the wiser or closer to a release date. One thing is for sure: if the second trailer causes anywhere near the same social media mania as the first, then it’ll dominate social media for days on end.
More Map Info
Again, this is another area where Rockstar is keeping tight-lipped. Given that the new game will revisit a revamped, modern version of Vice City, rumor mills have gone into overdrive over some of the ideas and suggestions for how the map might get a facelift, so to speak.
The first trailer has already revealed how Rockstar plans to upgrade some of the areas from the 2002 classic, with extensive refurbishments, to the legendary Malibu club and the famous strip, which I remember breezing down on a Faggio scooter over 20 years ago, also seeing huge renovations, much more reminiscent of modern-day Miami.
Soundtrack
So far, only Tom Petty has appeared on the soundtrack, and his iconic song Love Is A Long Road exploded on Spotify in the hours after the trailer first hit YouTube. Up to now, though, no other artists have been confirmed. While there may be a homage to Vice City in some way (I’m hoping for Africa by TOTO or I Ran by A Flock Of Seagulls) - the chances are that the music will include plenty of modern-day rappers, music with prominent podcasters, perhaps having their own radio stations on the game. Whenever the second trailer emerges, we will have the second song on the soundtrack, but until then, our guess is as good as yours.
Final Thoughts
Given that we waited 10 years for the GTA VI trailer, it’s hard to see how the second trailer would create anywhere near the same level of excitement unless it gives insight into gameplay, the soundtrack, levels, or some of the other characters that are set to feature in the game.
The pessimistic side of me thinks that there could be a delay. Given the almost radio silence that has occurred in the 12 months since the trailer, an increasing number of GTA fans believe the longer we wait for the second trailer, the less likely we will see the game in 2025. Who knows? Maybe they’ll release the game without a second trailer. However, knowing Rockstar’s track record and how they operate, the second trailer is likely around the corner.