<![CDATA[ Latest from TechRadar in Rockstar ]]> https://www.techradar.com/tag/rockstar Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:41:47 +0000 en <![CDATA[ Sony announces that the PS3 and Vita stores are going offline on the same day it tells us we won't be able to buy physical games in future — 'This is why physical media matters' ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/sony-announces-that-the-ps3-and-vita-stores-are-going-offline-on-the-same-day-it-tells-us-we-wont-be-able-to-buy-physical-games-in-future-this-is-why-physical-media-matters z5e2YDQsppzhjruyhTo3yD Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:41:47 +0000 false false false
  • Sony has announced that the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita storefronts will soon shut down
  • They will close next month in some regions, and next year in the UK, US, and Australia
  • The news comes as the company announces the end of physical disc production in 2028

If today's news that PlayStation will stop producing physical game discs in 2028 wasn't bad enough, the company has also quietly announced that it will be closing the PS3 and PS Vita storefronts soon.

On the official PlayStation Blog, the company argues that the decision was driven by the fact that these old systems "are no longer able" to support "modern commerce systems" and current payment processing standards.

"PS3 and PS Vita represent an important era in our PlayStation history, so this was not an easy decision for us to make" the post says.

The storefronts will not be wound down immediately. It will be discontinued next month in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua, then "additional Latin American and Middle Eastern countries" later in 2026.

For those in the US, UK, and Australia, the PlayStation Store will go offline on PS3 and PS Vita in July 2027. That gives you roughly a year to make any final digital purchases if you still have those consoles lying around.

Importantly, Sony does at least say that "players will still be able to download previously purchased content" once the stores are offline for "the foreseeable future" so it sounds like you at least won't lose access to anything that you have bought.

The reactions to the news in the comments have been overwhelmingly negative, with one PlayStation fan writing that "This is why physical media matters. More and more proof that you’re just buying a license that can be taken away whenever companies feel like it."

Another wrote: "Just stripping out everything today from us huh?! How much money is enough for you guys to not make everything worse?"

]]> <![CDATA[ In a huge blow to game ownership, PlayStation confirms end of physical games — mere days after GTA 6's disc-less pre-orders ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/in-a-huge-blow-to-game-ownership-playstation-confirms-end-of-physical-games-mere-days-after-gta-6s-disc-less-pre-orders uCAV4KqHMoTDK6bMaipms5 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:40:47 +0000 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:11:15 +0000 false false false
  • PlayStation has announced that it will not release games on physical discs from January 2028
  • This comes days after GTA 6 pre-orders were digital or code-in-a-box orders only
  • Decision looks to pave the way for a digital-only PS6, probably releasing in 20-28 at the earliest

PlayStation has today announced that no new PlayStation games will be released on physical disc from January 2028 onwards.

In a huge blow to the concept of physical ownership, the gaming giant has said this move is "a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs" in a new PS blog post.

It goes on to argue that, "This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today."

The move is unlikely to be popular with fans and particularly with game collectors, and comes just days after the disc-less GTA 6 pre-orders, which saw Rockstar ditch the disc in favour of code-in-a-box game box releases.

Not only this, but this decision also comes a matter of days after PlayStation removed some movies that console owners had bought digitally from their libraries with no compensation.

It all points to a digital-only future, with a physical disc drive only being useful for games released before January 2028 on PlayStation. Sony's next PlayStation console being digital only by default now seems very likely.

It's a far cry from Sony's famous dunk on the PS4's competitor, the Xbox One, at the beginning of the last console generation, when the latter appeared to be announced with a function that would block resale and sharing of physical games. Microsoft quickly rowed that back.

The under-30-second video clip published by PlayStation has been viewed millions of times and is part of a series of famous 'wins' for PlayStation's console over Microsoft's back in 2013 that set the scene for that generation — and beyond — and is part of gaming folklore.

Now, however, it's all changed. This decision will further bring the concept of owning one's own games under scrutiny when publishers and platform holders will simply retain the right and ability to pull the plug at will, with consumers not necessarily owning a copy of the game they bought.

How do you feel about Sony's decision to no longer release any new PlayStation games on physical discs from 2028? Vote in the poll below or leave a comment.

]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 6 pre-orders live — bundles arrive, while almost all major US and UK retailers have stock ]]> https://www.techradar.com/live/news/draft-gta-6-pre-orders-stock xb3p7xqbtFDScvBbMcthsB Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:00:32 +0000 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:57:36 +0000 false false false

Securing your GTA 6 pre-order is the most exciting thing you can do now ahead of the game's launch in November. Everybody around the world can place a pre-order now, and the good news is that stock is holding steady at all major retailers, especially in the US and UK.

GTA 6 pre-order quick links

The official Grand Theft Auto cover art and logo

(Image credit: Rockstar)

US - IN STOCK
Standard Edition - $79.99
📦Amazon: PS5 | Xbox Series X|S
🔆Walmart: PS5 | Xbox Series X|S
-----------------------------------------------------
UK - IN STOCK
Standard Edition - £69.99
📦Amazon: PS5 | Xbox Series X|S
📱EE: PS5 | Xbox Series X|S

-----------------------------------------------------
1. US quick links
2. UK quick links
4. Potential GTA 6 hardware upgrades
3. Live updates

There are two editions: the Standard Edition gets you the main game as a code in a physical box and will cost $79.99 / £69.99, while the Ultimate Edition features an "exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia’s story," and will cost $99.99 / £89.99.

Anybody who pre-orders or buys the game before November 20 will also receive the Vintage Vice City Pack, described as "a collection of items that flash back to when the neon burned brightest." It offers a little selection of throwback items based on the classic Vice City game.

Now that we're a full day past the pre-order start date, I'm hoping we'll start to see some bundles appear that wrap up the game and consoles together. I'd put money on PS5s and PS5 Pros being the main culprits here, but let's see.

But let's get to it: below you'll find a host of quick links to get you right to the correct retailers as fast as possible, then more detail about the editions and links to retailers for each below that, and to finish, some info on hardware and accessories which might make a huge difference to your GTA 6 experience.

GTA 6 pre-orders: US quick links

GTA 6 pre-orders: UK quick links

GTA 6 pre-orders - PS5 US

Somehow Amazon sold all of its GTA 6 stock on PS5 initially - but now it's back!View Deal

The Ultimate Edition gets you those fun digital extras and a physical box of the game. We haven't spotted any stock yet, but here are some retailers to try.View Deal

GTA 6 pre-orders - PS5 UK

In the UK, Amazon is likely the safest bet at this stage for checking stock on the standard edition, but you can also try:View Deal

If you're looking for the Ultimate Edition on PS5 in the UK, then head over to Amazon to check for stock or bookmark the retailers below to get those extra fantastic goodies.View Deal

GTA 6 pre-orders - Xbox Series X

Those playing on Xbox Series X can bag their GTA 6 pre-order right now with the Standard Edition getting things going.View Deal

The biggest edition going is available for Xbox players in the US and gets you all those superb collectible bits and pieces.View Deal

GTA 6 pre-orders - Xbox Series X UK

Those in the UK should head over to Amazon to check for standard edition stock or to the retailers below.View Deal

Xbox Series X players looking to get the most premium edition going can head over to Amazon to check stock there with this link or via any of the retailer links below.View Deal

Should I pre-order GTA 6?

Folks often discuss or ask me personally whether something is worth pre-ordering or not. That usually comes down to people balancing whether to go early or to wait for launch day stock, or even deals at a later date.

However, this is GTA 6 and my advice is as categorical as ever: this will be the most in-demand video game of all time; you absolutely should pre-order if you are willing and able to do so. I'd still say that, despite physical boxes being 'code in a box' affairs and without disks — there will still likely be a finite number of GTA 6 game boxes with retailers so it might genuinely sell out. If you want the most physical preorder for GTA 6, then still go for it, despite the digital game code within, is my advice.

I really, wholeheartedly recommend a GTA 6 pre-order if you can, just to secure your unit and know that it'll be in your hands on day one.

GTA 6 pre-orders — what's in each edition?

With two GTA 6 pre-order editions and options, there are a few extras and differences to be aware of. If you're looking for a quick overview to inform your choice, then we've got you covered.

Starting off simply, if you pre-order the GTA 6 standard edition, you will get the following:

  • The base game as a digital code
  • A physical box
  • Vintage Vice City Pack — "a collection of items that flash back to when the neon burned brightest."
  • The ability to preload from November 12

The Ultimate Edition gets you a few more digital bonuses on top of what's in the standard edition, though Rockstar's description is a little vague still.

  • The base game as a digital code in a physical box
  • Vintage Vice City Pack — "a collection of items that flash back to when the neon burned brightest."
  • Digital bonuses — "An exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia’s story."
  • The ability to preload from November 12

The best hardware upgrades for GTA 6

There are some cracking discounts and deals running right now, so it might be a great time to consider a hardware upgrade or accessory refresh alongside your GTA 6 pre-order.

Fear not though, as the TechRadar team has sifted through the mass of tech deals right now to present you with some top picks which will elevate your GTA 6 experience.

US deals

While not bombastic value for money, if you want a PS5 SSD to commit to right now or want to keep an eye on one from a trusted brand, this is it.View Deal

Offering as great a performance as my mid-range gaming rig in a much smaller space, the Xbox Series X serves up stunning graphics and super smooth performance. And honestly, unless you're wedded to physical media, the Digital Edition is by far the best deal.View Deal

This version boasts a massive storage upgrade and a cool design, plus a disc drive (not that you'll need it for GTA 6).View Deal

Samsung's S90F OLED TV is one of our best-rated OLED TVs, and it's down to $1,397.99, thanks to a $1,000 discount. The S90F OLED TV delivers an outstanding picture, thanks to the quantum dot OLED technology and Samsung's NQ4 AI Gen3 processor. You're also getting extensive gaming features and Samsung's impressive Tizen operating system.View Deal

Save big on Razer's high-quality Esports-grade Raiju V3 Pro controller, officially designed for the PlayStation 5 console. With six remappable buttons, TMR thumbsticks, and fast triggers, there's plenty of customization at your disposal.View Deal

We've spotted an excellent price drop on the Sony InZone buds. Grab it now at Amazon before it's gone.View Deal

The Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed wireless gaming headset is a fantastic option for both PS5 and PC players, particularly Esports players, with audio thanks to the 50mm graphene drivers providing fantastic sound, and its lengthy battery life. View Deal

Here is an Amazon exclusive deal on a massive display. You can get TCL's 98-inch QM64L Series for $1,799.99, which is an incredible price for a TV of this size. A truly great budget mini-LED TV, the TCL QM64L delivers vibrant picture quality and solid gaming features for a price that won't break the bank.View Deal

UK deals

There's not much going in the way of PS5 Pro deals, but if you want the stunning visual boost to your games provided by its Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling, plus its whopping 2TB of storage and faster downloads with Wi-Fi 7, this is as good as it gets right now.View Deal

Very is currently offering the best price I can find in the UK for the Xbox Series X, with £20 off its regular rate. I think the PS5 is better value right now, but this is still a good option if you're wedded to the Xbox ecosystem.View Deal

Acer's GM7000 is a trusted PS5 SSD with heatsink you can go for right now, and given the discount is probably the best deal on a 1TB drive we can find right now for a PS5 SSD.View Deal

This looks like the lowest price on the 1TB card since December, and in a time of absolutely dire prices and availability on memory and storage, this is not a bad option if you're looking to boost your storage on Xbox Series X or Series S.View Deal

Score the Sony InZone Buds for less at Amazon right now. This is a rare chance to save big.View Deal

Upgrade your setup with the PlayStation Pulse Explore Earbuds, now available at a stellar price via Ee.View Deal

It's not the lowest price this elite controller has ever been, but it's as good as it gets right now, if you want to upgrade ready for GTA.View Deal

A neat ten-pound discount on the Forza Horizon 6 controller makes for a quality companion for playing GTA 6 on Xbox consoles. Plus, it kind of looks like it has a Vice City aesthetic, so it fits the bill aesthetically too!View Deal

This is a great price for the headset in the UK, as it can often be seen for comfortably north of the £300 mark. Upgrade your audio and never look back again.

Xbox variant: Peter Tyson - £369View Deal

The LG C5 covers all the bases, with OLED picture quality and razor-sharp performance for movies, sports and gaming. There's a reason it tops most of our best-of lists. The 55-inch model has dropped to £977.10 at Amazon, a new record-low price. View Deal

Still looking for that TV upgrade for the World Cup? The Samsung QN90F is our pick for the best TV for sports and the 55-inch model has dropped to £809.10, which is the cheapest it's ever been. With a glare-free screen and solid brightness, it's ideal for bright rooms, too. View Deal

I recently upgraded to a similar gaming monitor from MSI — and I haven't looked back. There are definitely bigger and better monitors out there, but you get serious value for money with this MAG 325CQPF. It's a large 32-inch curved display, with support for up to 1440p resolution, a max refresh rate of 180Hz, and a response time of 0.5ms for smooth and responsive gaming. As far as budget gaming monitors go, it's hard to beat at this price.View Deal

Live updates

It's finally happening — GTA 6 pre-orders are here

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of GTA 6 pre-orders. It's an incredibly exciting time and I've made it my mission to present you the best information, latest details, and all the best retailer links to pre-order Rockstar's latest and greatest as soon as they go live.

Strap in, it's going to be a heck of a ride!

Pricing information finally arrived

GTA 6 Jason and Lucia

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

The huge news to come today, just ahead of pre-orders going live at midnight local time, June 25, was the pricing - at least some of it. Rockstar confirmed that the standard edition of the game will cost $79.99 and the ultimate edition of the game will cost $99.99.

What does that mean for other territories? No idea, really — a UK price could be the same numbers but in GBP, but we just don't know yet.

Read our full story here: We finally know the official GTA 6 price ahead of pre-orders — it's expensive, but not as bad as some expected

Folks in New Zealand can pre-order right now!

GTA 6 pre-orders live on the New Zealand PS Store website

(Image credit: Sony/PlayStation/Rockstar)

Because Rockstar has opted for a midnight local time launch for pre-orders around the world, we're already seeing folks place their orders and see it on official storefronts.

Fans in New Zealand can currently head over to the PS Store and snag their pre-order! How exciting!

Will you be pre-ordering?

Pre-ordering games is always a bit of debate among fans, but GTA 6 might be the one that transcends all concerns about pre-ordering a game.

Will you be placing a pre-order? Take our poll below, and we'll see how many folks are keen, and how many might be holding back.

Pre-orders in Australia should be live very soon

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

We'll soon have another country going live with pre-order time arriving for fans in Australia very soon. I've only seen the PS Store and Xbox store live with links or listings so far though - no actual retailers, which I'm curious about.

A collector's POV

I'm a little bit of a gaming gear and games collector — nothing huge by any means, but certainly my most favorite or anticipated things, for sure — and I'm a bit disappointed about the physical editions just being a code in a box. I would have loved to have placed a pre-order knowing I was getting a full physical edition with box, disk, and anything else.

A saving grace may be that there's some cool art or a map, or something else inside the boxes alongside the code — but equally, Rockstar would surely have detailed those bits in order to paint a full picture and sell the editions. Anyway, I live in hope...

Australian pre-orders are live at the PlayStation and Xbox stores!

As expected, Australians can now get in on the GTA 6 pre-order action by placing digital pre-orders on the game on either of the major console storefronts right now!

GTA 6 at the Australian PlayStation Store

GTA 6 at the Australian Xbox Store

First physical copies I've seen at a retailer

GTA 6 pre-orders live on Australia's JB-HiFi website

(Image credit: Sony/PlayStation/Rockstar)

JB HiFI in Australia and New Zealand are the best retailer to go live with listings as far as I can tell, and gives us a first (predictable) look at how shops and online retailers will be selling the game!

The only thing really of note in the description though is that "A disc will not be included in the box."

Don't make a big mistake when choosing editions

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Gaming Editor Dashiell Wood has some timely advice for those choosing which edition to buy:
"Don't bank on Rockstar Games offering an upgrade to the Ultimate Edition if you only buy the standard version. I was caught out back when I bought the standard edition of Red Dead Redemption 2 and soon discovered that I wouldn't be able to access that game's Ultimate Edition goodies unless I bought a whole new copy.

Choose your edition of GTA 6 carefully. If you think you want any of the content from the Ultimate Edition, then it's the one to go for. An extra $20 now could save you from feeling like you missed out in future. I'm not making the same mistake twice."

Read more: I made a massive mistake when buying Red Dead Redemption 2 — Here's how to avoid the same trap with GTA 6

Hey everyone! Gaming Editor Dash here, signing on to take over the coverage as Rob logs off for the day. I'll be with you for the next few hours tracking the latest GTA 6 pre-order news.

The Ultimate Edition might not be physical

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

There's an interesting omission with the listings currently live in Australia. You can pick up the game for either PS5 or Xbox Series X, but only the standard edition.

There doesn't seem to be a physical box with the Ultimate Edition version up right now, which makes me think that we might not actually get one.

I'll keep searching and let you know if one appears...

On the subject of that Ultimate Edition, an upgrade has actually been spotted in the New Zealand PlayStation Store. This suggests that players will be able to pay to upgrade their version of the Standard Edition game to the Ultimate Edition somewhere down the line.

This is definitely a very consumer-friendly move, and removes some of the pressure to lock in one edition early that I was talking about earlier.

Still, there's no word on how much the upgrade will cost and I imagine buying the Ultimate Edition upfront will be the cheaper option.

What actually is GTA+?

Digital GTA 6 pre-orders come with a free month of GTA+, but what does that actually mean?

GTA+ is Rockstar's subscription service, mainly geared towards GTA Online players. It gives you a wealth of in-game bonuses, like discounts on property, loads of free vehicles, free clothing, and regular in-game currency injections.

It even comes with its own library of games, with a rotating selection of titles that you can play at no extra cost. This currently includes GTA 5 and GTA Online for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles in addition to the likes Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

If you want to make the best use of your month, I would recommend using it to play Vice City so you can get to grips with the Florida-inspired setting before GTA 6 arrives.

I've just heard that Rob is back to take the reins once again! See you all soon for more GTA 6 pre-order madness.

I'm back!

I have indeed returned! How's everyone doing?

Got itchy trigger fingers?

Dash and I were just talking about whether we would pre-order a physical copy ourselves, but neither of us are sure now due to the code in a box situation....

Still, I've got time to mull it over before UK pre-orders go live in less than five hours.

Our coverage of GTA 6 is also on TikTok, by the way

We'll be continuing our GTA 6 pre-order coverage and talking more about the game in the build-up to its release on the platform, too, by the way, so if video content is your bag and you like what we do, consider giving us a follow there!

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar

Remember the GTA+ benefit

The GTA Plus symbol on a black background

(Image credit: Rockstar)

When you place a GTA 6 pre-order on the PlayStation or Xbox digital storefronts, you'll get a free month of GTA+ thrown in that you can use immediately. A cool, but relatively niche benefit, and the service from Rockstar is often positioned at the most committed GTA Online players.

However, it does give you more benefits and could set up a fun month of revisiting older GTA games...

Dash has written a full explainer and helpful article on the service here, so you can swot up and see the benefits you might get out of it for a free month of using it.

Read more: Digital Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders come with free GTA+ — But what actually is it, and how do you use it to play old GTA games?

Do you think the pricing of the editions are fair?

There's been a bit of chat about the pricing of both editions and the value proposition on offer - particularly with the Ultimate Edition.

But what do you think? Is the pricing reasonable on both editions, on the whole?

Pricing elsewhere?

Having said that and asked for your thoughts on the fairness or reasonableness of the pricing, we only have the US price tags to go off still.

We're only five hours from UK pre-orders starting and still have no idea what they will cost! Stick around here though, as we'll share that info as soon as we have it.

Which console will be best to play GTA 6 on?

PS5 console and GTA 6 artwork

(Image credit: Sony / Rockstar Games)

You'll likely have a fantastic experience on any console with GTA 6, given Rockstar's technical wizardry, but naturally, Sony thinks the best place to play the game will be on PS5, and specifically the PS5 Pro.

The gaming giant put out a blog post earlier saying that GTA 6 will take advantage of a host of the console's bespoke features, including haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and the internal SSD.

Given the historically close relationship between Rockstar and PlayStation, we kind of think that the PS5 Pro may well be the definitive way to play GTA 6 this November — shame about those price hikes, right?

A whole new heap of information — from images

Grand Theft Auto 6 press screenshots that focus on character customization.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

As well as the details on the editions, pricing, and so on, Rockstar also dropped a huge 63 new images for us all to pore over and see if we can pick out details, hints at gameplay, or, well, anything.

Dash, who's been writing like a demon this afternoon in the UK heat, has put together a one-stop shop article for all those glorious new images, but also added some analysis and descriptions of what these images could reveal and hint at. A perfect way to prepare for placing a GTA 6 pre-order.

Read more: There are 63 new Grand Theft Auto 6 screenshots to pore over, giving us our first look at some of the key mechanics of the upcoming GTA game

Only three and half hours to go for UK folks!

Warning GIF flashing

(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)

That's right we're slowly but surely creeping our way to the big moment for UK fans, as GTA 6 pre-orders will open in just three and half hous; just 210 minutes!

Where will you be placing your pre-order? I'm hoping we'll get some solid retailer action away from digital storefronts, and maybe even a surprise. One can only hope.

Hi all. Global Editor in Chief Marc here, taking over from Rob for a few hours so he can have a little break before pre-orders start in the UK in a few hours' time.

Nice of Rockstar to schedule this during Prime Day, the World Cup and a UK heatwave, eh? It's not like we have anything else to spend our time on…

Then again, it's inarguably a bigger deal than any of them. After all, Prime Day happens every year, the World Cup every four years and a UK heatwave seemingly every few weeks these days. Whereas GTA V came out 13 years ago. Seriously, 13 years!

So don't worry, we'll be prioritizing it over everything else.

Where it all began

Images from the Grand Theft Auto series

(Image credit: Rockstar)

My realization that GTA V came out 13 years ago — 13 years! — got me thinking about my favorite Grand Theft Auto games. I've played pretty much all of them, and at the time they came out, too, because I'm really old.

I remember loving the original GTA and II, plus the London expansion pack, but it was the third entry in 2001 that really blew me away — and I suspect many gamers of a similar age would tell a similar story.

It was partly the shift from 2D to 3D of course, but also the cinematic story, the soundtrack, just everything really. Well, maybe not the controls, but then that's barely changed over the years…

Here we go again…

GTA San Andreas

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Amazing though GTA III was, it was the next two entries that remain my absolute favorites: Vice City and San Andreas.

San Andreas was superb, but it was the first game that sometimes felt a little like hard work, what with the need to give CJ a haircut and food and some exercise and so on. Whereas Vice City… I genuinely can't remember many better experiences in my 45 years of gaming than riding a motorbike down the seafront while Spandau Ballet's Gold played on the radio. You kinda had to be there…

Time for a catch-up

GTA Trilogy

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

The good news is that whether you missed out on those earlier titles, or want to refresh your memory before VI drops, you can easily do so by playing Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy.

The Trilogy contains III, Vice City and San Andreas, and it's one of the few GTA games that you can currently play on modern consoles.

We've got details of the full list and where to play them in our guide to how to catch up on GTA.

Fancy a TV upgrade?

LG G5 OLED TV gaming menu

(Image credit: Future)

I'm a PC gamer these days, so if I do want to play GTA 6 on launch I'm going to need a new console. I'd also take the opportunity to upgrade my TV, because I don't yet have an OLED or mini-LED set.

Does that matter? It does if you ask our resident TV expert James Davidson, who's written an expert guide to the four televisions he thinks will truly do justice to the new game, and why you should consider an upgrade.

Full story: I test gaming TVs every day and these are the models I'd trust to let GTA 6 look its best

Okay, fancy a CHEAP TV upgrade?

Prime Day gaming TV image with Samsung QN90F with Prime Day logo overlaid

(Image credit: Future)

Of course this being Prime Day week, you can pick up a TV for less right now in Amazon's big sale.

James has also put together a list of the best TV deals on sets he'd recommend for the new game, so be sure to give that a read before you open your wallet.

Full story: Prime Day’s TV deals are perfectly timed for GTA 6 — I’m a TV reviewer, and here are the best gaming TV deals to upgrade ready for its launch

Hi folks, Managing Editor Matt Bolton taking over for a while

Let me tell you my GTA IV release date story. I'd pre-ordered it for my Xbox 360, which we had to do back then if you wanted to play it on launch day, since no one was downloading games of that size at the time.

By the time the release day came around, I'd actually forgotten about it. I was a student, and I was just out with friends that evening, and my route home took me past the video game store. It was after midnight, so a huge queue had formed, and the GIANT signs in the window clued me in that I'd stumbled onto the launch event.

Luckily, I'd stuffed my pre-order receipt (no email confirmations back then!) in my wallet, so I slightly hazily joined the queue, picked up my copy, and wandered home. I thought it'd be nice to be able to just get up and play it in the morning.

Obviously, I started playing as soon as I got home and just didn't bother going to sleep. Ah, the good ol' days. On this launch day, I'm more like to not sleep because of back pain or a heatwave.

Why is there no collector's edition bundle for GTA 6?

One commenter asked us this in our TikTok video announcing the pre-order, and it's a great question. The answer may lie in another game — Red Dead Redemption 2. For Rockstar's other big-hitting franchise, the Collector's Edition was released separately — without the game. They may well pull the same stunt here.

This is an interesting concept, for sure. Red Dead Redemption 2 had a standard, special, and ultimate edition, so we're already missing one of those with the GTA 6 pre-order situation.

Could it be that Rockstar only wants to launch digitally initially in order to avoid any risks about leaks or something, but then come again later with a special edition or collector's edition that's 'properly' physical — I could see that happening. People would buy it twice too.

I think we're about to witness a game pre-order situation that is like no other, ever; it'll transcend any other game pre-order logic, pattern, or situation, so the idea of Rockstar coming later with a collector's edition or physical copy to coincide with a later beat, such as GTA 6 Online, or a PC release, is very much something I can see.

Rob Dwiar, Managing Editor, TechRadar Gaming

I'm back, by the way

Hello, it's me, Rob Dwiar, back again to guide you through the next while, as UK pre-orders approach...

Only 30 minutes to go for UK pre-orderers!

Warning GIF flashing

(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)

We are now dangerously close to UK pre-orders kicking off!

In only 30 minutes the GTA 6 pre-order flood gates will open and hopefully we'll see a host of retailers get on in the action!

15 minutes to go in the UK!

Brian Heder and Jason Duval in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

This is so exciting! There's only 15 minutes to go for those in the UK who want to place a GTA 6 pre-order!

So close - after all these years, it's finally happening!

Just 5 minutes for UK fans!

Genuinely I feel a bit of adrenaline and that wonderful kind of excitement you only ever get for momentous occasions right now — it's an infectious feeling, and one that comes from a huge moment in our industry!

How exciting to see it this close up, in real time!

Here are those UK links to bookmark now at a range of retailers — I'll update them as soon as I spot specific links!

IT'S HAPPENING!

We should be live! If I had to guess, I'd go for the PlayStation and Xbox storefronts first - but surely others will follow

UK prices confirmed!

Xbox GTA6 pre-orders

(Image credit: Microsoft/Xbox)

We are live at Xbox! The official Microsoft Xbox store has confirmed that the standard edition will cost £69.99 and the ultimate edition will cost £89.99.

PS Store Live in the UK!

The PlayStation store is live now too! Same prices as Xbox, and confirms that it wasn't just a translation of the USD numbers.

15 minutes in...

OK so where the heck are our UK retailer listings?!

We can still only see the PlayStation store and Xbox store as the ones with live pre-order links....

ShopTo is live!

Excellent retailer ShopTo has gone live with its GTA 6 pre-order stock!

The Game Collection too!

As has The Game Collection!

ShopTo has a complete set of standard editions up

ShopTo has got the first completed set of both platforms up and ready for pre-order!

Very and Smyths Toys join the UK party!

We've got more options in the UK as Smyths Toys and Very both go live with their standard edition GTA 6 pre-orders!

Options are on the table!

UK shoppers have got options! Which is definitely great — but where are the big boys like Amazon?

The silence is deafening from t hat retailer in particular...

Are we out of the flurry now?

Is that it for the UK now? Or at least for the moment?

After a flurry of activity at a few UK retailers, everything seems to have calmed down.... Is that it for now?

Amazon joins the UK party!

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

I was beginning to worry about the biggest UK retailers, but Amazon UK is indeed live!

That might be it for UK fans....

Vintage Vice City Pack

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

It looks like that might be just about all the action that's going to happen in the UK this evening,....

I'm pretty sure that's it for the UK now as it's all gone very quiet!

We'll be putting this live coverage down for a little bit for now, but will be heard, ready to go with all thrusters on full power ready for eh US pre-orders to go live at midnight ET!

See you soon!

See you soon!

I'm going to head off now, but we will be back before you know it with live coverage of the US pre-orders!

See you soon!

Good morning gamers! It's Dash here to pick the coverage back up!

It's just after midnight ET, so we're expecting some US retailers to potentially go live. I'm not seeing any action yet, but hang tight as I bring you the latest.

There's still no sign of a physical Ultimate Edition

Grand Theft Auto 6 clothing.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

It looks like there is still no sign of a physical Ultimate Edition version of the game. I haven't spotted any official confirmation from Rockstar Games that there won't be one available, but I'd take its absence so far as a sure indicator that it's not happening which is going to be bad news for collectors.

My sneaky plan to get a free copy of GTA 6

I actually have my own little sneaky plan to get a copy of Grand Theft Auto 6 for free.

Here in the UK, there's a reward scheme called Nectar that lets you rack up points when you shop at certain supermarkets and buy fuel at certain gas stations. You can even covert your air miles into Nectar points.

You can spend these at the big retailer Argos, so ahead of this week I transferred some of mine to pull together just over £100 worth of reward points - which I intend to use to get my GTA 6 pre-order for "free".

There's a bit of an issue though: Argos doesn't have pre-orders live yet, so I'm hoping they put them up soon.

Here we go folks!

US digital pre-orders are now live, with the game available to purchase on both the PlayStation Store and Xbox store in both its standard and Ultimate editions.

Still no sign of the physical edition in the US... Maybe we'll have to wait until midnight PT for it to drop? That's just over two hours away.

It's time! The US physical edition is now available to pre-order

GTA 6 listing.

(Image credit: Amazon)

It's time!

The first retailer I've spotted with pre-orders open in the US is Amazon.

Run, don't walk to secure your copy below:

I've been scouring social media to see how fans have been getting on with their pre-orders, but I'm also seeing plenty of hilarious memes.

Here's a post poking fun at the amount of content locked behind that Ultimate Edition; the one that's made me chuckle the hardest so far.

Walmart just went live!

Some great news for those that want to pre-order at Walmart! Listings are now live for both both the PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S versions of GTA 6!

Take a look:

Target store checkout line and logo

(Image credit: Shuang Li / Shutterstock)

First Walmart, now Target!

Another set of listings are live.

At least one retailer is protesting the release

North American store Video Games Plus is apparently protesting the release by not offering pre-orders due to Rockstar's somewhat controversial decision to only offer a code in a physical box.

As the company explained in a recent X post: "For nearly 40 years, VGP has been committed to supporting physical media and preserving the value of physical game ownership. As part of that commitment, our company policy is that we do not carry physical products for video game consoles that contain only a digital download code.

"Based on the information currently available, the physical release of Grand Theft Auto VI for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X is expected to be a code-in-box product. As a result, VGP will not be offering it for sale under our current company policy."

The company does say that it will put for the game up on its site if Rockstar does decide to release a physical edition with a disc in the box "one day" down the line.

Best Buy has listings live right now!

GTA 6 at Best Buy.

(Image credit: Best Buy)

Another retailer joins the fray, albeit a bit later than I expected.

Best Buy has both currently available versions of the game up for grabs at $79.99 a piece!

Have you placed a pre-order yet? You can let us know in the comments of this live page!

I haven't placed mine just yet, as I'm still waiting for Argos to get the memo and put listings live.

GameStop has joined in!

And just like that, the last major retailer that we have been tracking is weighing in.

GameStop is live with pre-orders, with free home shipping.

Amazon is somehow out of stock

Amazon GTA 6

(Image credit: Amazon)

Wait... Am I seeing this correctly? Physical copies on PS5 have already sold out at Amazon in the US?

The option to buy has been removed from the product page and Amazon now says that the item is currently unavailable.

It seems copies were in for less than an hour so people must've really rushed to snap one up.

Of course, Amazon will almost certainly have a restock before launch, so you can just wait and I'm sure it'll be available buy again over the next five months, but if you want to secure your copy right now, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Planning to buy the PS5 version of the game on Amazon before stock ran out?

Here are the best alternatives now:

Argos has gone live in the UK, and there's a promo code

Argos GTA 6.

(Image credit: Argos)

Argos has finally put it's listings live, and I'm actually seeing a promo code at checkout that lets you save 5%

The code is MDEXCCAMP-1-MK and takes the price down by £3.50, though your mileage may vary. Be sure to try it before you hit the purchase button!

That's my pre-order placed!

I took full advantage of the Argos discount code any my current Nectar balance to get the best deal possible.

The total cost to me? £0 (unless you count all those reward points)...

If you're in the US and after the Xbox version of the game, you don't need to worry about stock for now.

It's still readily available at Amazon via the link below!

Things seem to have quieted down a little!

After the rush of Amazon running out of PS5 stock, it seems things have calmed down.

The most important US retailers are all live, with stock up for grabs, and over in the UK the situation seems pretty stable. There are still some UK retailers that haven't gone live with pre-order yet, like Currys, but this will surely happen with time.

Rob has just logged on for the day, so I'm going to hand things back over to his capable hands as we continue to monitor and track the stock situation!

See you all soon.

I have returned!

Yup, Rob's back, and here to help guide you through the next phase of GTA 6 pre-order day.

We've seen a few twists and turns but the great news is that we've still got new retailer options popping up, and seeing some come back...

Amazon US is back!

First the big US news: Amazon has got its PS5 stock back!

EE is live in the UK

GTA 6 PS5 Edition game box on a white background at EE's store

(Image credit: EE/Rockstar/Xbox)

Coming a bit later to the party, EE is now live with both platforms' standard edition pre-orders, offering folks another excellent option this side of the pond.

We really rate shopping for gaming stuff at EE, so if you haven't placed a pore-order yet, it's absolutely worth a shout - especially if some of the big boys' stock starts to wobble.

Time for poll - which platform will you play GTA 6 on?

With pre-orders in full swing but only for two platforms, there are actually four main console variants that we can play GTA 6 on later this year — which one are you playing it on?

Off the beaten track retailers entering the fray...

I've done loads of these launches before, and sometimes there are some off-the-beaten-track retailers that come to the fore and offer great options. And that's what we've got in the UK with retailer, Hit (formerly Base), joining the party now.

Game UK has finally shown up

...but with only one pre-order listing. For the Xbox variant.

Strange start from what used to be the UK's main Gaming retailer, but it's another option nonetheless.

PS5 appears at Game!

Game UK's GTA 6 pre-order listings showing the two game boxes on a white background

(Image credit: Game/Rockstar/Xbox)

Oh! As soon as I posted that and did my retailer page refresh, Games's PS5 listing appeared in front of me!

So now we have a complete set from the retailer.

So who is missing in the UK?

While the US still sleeps (mainly, probably), we've nearly got a full picture in the UK — but there are some notable absentees still. At the top of the list are Currys and John Lewis.

I really would have expected both — at least Currys, frankly — to be live by now, but here we are.

Currys might be one to keep an eye on for potential bundles though, as it has been known to make its own collections of goodies with new releases...

Could we ever see a collector's edition?

A Grand Theft Auto 6 screenshot highlighting some of the cars in the game.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

In one way, it does feel like GTA 6 launching with only two editions is a bit odd.

I thought that they'd launch with four editions: follow the Red Dead Redemption 2 pattern of Standard, Special, and Ultimate, and then throw in a mega Collector's Edition on top of that pile.

How wrong I was. But could there be a scenario where we see a physical release down the line? Perhaps!

And we've got an article discussing that, too. Read more here: 'No collector's edition?': as GTA 6 pre-orders go live, Rockstar could face scrutiny if it pulls the same move as it did with Red Dead Redemption 2

GTA 6 PS5 bundles have appeared!

EE's PS5 GTA6 bundle listing page

(Image credit: EE/Sony/Rockstar)

What I very much think are the first GTA 6 PS5 bundles have appeared at a UK retailer! And it's one of our favorites: EE.

The retailer has got a bundle on both the PS5 Pro and the PS5 Slim, and it marks the best one-and-done solution to get the game and probably the definitive console to play GTA 6 on.

These bundles also save you some cash! For example, the EE website says there's £35 off the console, then you get £14.99 off the game when buying it with a PS5.

Upgrade your pad for GTA 6

If I could recommend a premium, or more feature-filled controller for both PS5 and Xbox ahead of GTA 6 to get, it would be the two below for UK players.

The DualSense Edge is a fantastic premium controller that builds on all the things that make the original DualSense excellent - and retains the wonderful ergonomic design.

For Xbox, I have a major soft spot for Thrustmaster's eSwap range, and the one I have used most, the eSwap X2, is down to a ridiculous price of less than £50!

A superb price for the official premium PS5 controller that will give you all the options you need to play GTA 6 how you like, while not compromising on ergonomics or quality.View Deal

This is a frankly ridiculous price for a quality controller, and absolutely offsets it being a wired pad. When I reviewed this controller, it was selling for well north of £150. Getting it for under fifty quid is a bargain.View Deal

US sit rep

OK, so as the East Coast of the US joins us, what's the current US GTA 6 pre-order situation?

Well, it looks pretty good! Every single major retailer has a live listing for both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game. And you'll find those below as a reminder!

The only thing we're missing is bundles...

Browse the latest GTA 6 images

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

In an email sent to outlets including TechRadar Gaming, Rockstar Games shared 63 new GTA 6 images, which can also be found on the game's official site.

We've put them all together in a gallery for you to browse, and explained what they might tell us about the game's mechanics and features.

Did you claim your free GTA+?

Digital GTA 6 pre-orders come with a free month of GTA+, but what exactly is the subscription service and what kind of benefits does it offer?

We've created a handy explainer that tells you everything you need to know about it. It outlines which games are included with your free month, and makes some suggestions about what to play first.

Your PS5's menus just got a new GTA 6 coat of paint

Sony has gone full GTA 6 marketing mode and decked out PS5 consoles with a new UI to promote the game. When players boot up their systems, they're now greeted by a full-screen animation of the game's logo. This slowly fades into an ad for the game on the console's welcome hub.

If you head over to the PlayStation Store, you'll also notice that the background now features co-protagonists Jason and Lucia. Even the PlayStation mobile app now has a special GTA 6 logo for its icon.

Reminder: we're now seeing bundles

PSA for mainly UK folks right now: we are now seeing our first GTA 6 PS5 bundles - and they are genuinely good value.

If you've been waiting to buy a PS5 solely for GTA 6 or want to upgrade to the Pro because of GTA 6, then now could be the time to commit, as EE has you covered.

UK news: John Lewis has finally joined the party!

John Lewis' GTA 6 pre-order listing on a white background

(Image credit: John Lewis/Rockstar/Sony/Xbox)

Finally, reliable department store John Lewis has its GTA 6 pre-order listings up!

Looking for a new headset ahead of GTA 6?

I know folks who will be revisiting parts of their PS5 or Xbox setup ahead of GTA 6 landing later this year, and that's a very wise idea from my point of view.

One of the best areas to improve or upgrade, that will have an instant tangible impact, is audio — and one of the best gaming headsets I have ever used, and the best sounding gaming headset would be a perfect investment.

Sadly not on offer despite the Prime Day and adjacent sales on, but the Maxwell 2 from Audeze is an astounding bit of kit and well worth a look, even at full price.

This is such a fantastic headset; I cannot recommend it more, even at its list price. If you have been thinking about upgrading to something more premium for this generation of gaming, on whatever platform, then this is a belter.

Xbox variant: $349 at AmazonView Deal

This is a great price for the headset in the UK, as it can often be seen for comfortably north of the £300 mark. Upgrade your audio and never look back again with this awesome headset.

Xbox variant: Peter Tyson - £369View Deal

Best Buy has an offer — of sorts

Best Buy's offer for My Best Buy members for those pre-ordering GTA 6

(Image credit: Best Buy)

If you're after a console and a copy of GTA 6 in the US, then Best Buy's offer might be of interest to you — if you're already a My Best Buy member or fancy signing up.

My Best Buy members will get a $50 certficate if you purchase an eligible console from this list in conjunction with pre-ordering GTA 6.

Sounds great, and a nice bonus if you're a member and want a new console. Be aware, though, you won't see that certificate until after the game ships to you in November. So, not a proper bundle, per se, but not bad.

And there was a UK offer earlier...

Speaking of offers, Dash raised one very first thing this morning for UK shoppers for use at Argos.

Your mileage may vary, but it was successful when we tried it a few times: try inputting the code MDEXCCAMP-1-MK at checkout at Argos, and you may be able to save 5%!

Is the price right?

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

There's understandably lots of conversation online regarding the price of GTA 6.

We took to our almost 400,000-member-strong WhatsApp channel to find out what our readers think and got some pretty interesting results.

The majority think that GTA 6 is too expensive. Still, a significant chunk of responders who thought it was overpriced said that they would buy it anyway. You can see the full results in our report below.

Read more: Is GTA 6 too expensive? We asked, and lots of you said 'Rockstar just lost a sale' — but a surprising number of people are willing to buy it anyway

It's goodbye from me — but not from us!

I'm heading off for a rest and a cold beverage now, but I'm leaving you in the safe hands of my colleague Hamish who's here to guide you through the next few hours and help you place your GTA 6 pre-order if you haven't already.

Toodle-oo!

Xbox price hike incoming

Xbox Series X

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Natanael Ginting)

Howdy gamers, it's Hamish and I'm kicking off my live blog stint with some stinky news: Xbox consoles are getting a price hike.

As announced on its blog, "The price of XBOX consoles will increase by US$100 for 512 GB models and US$150 for 1 TB models" and those will go into effect August 1, 2026. These will be on top of the price hikes we saw in the US last October.

Like everyone else in the tech industry Xbox is blaming component cost increases saying "console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027." It added that these increases hit consoles harder than other consumer gadgets because consoles are already sold at a loss, meaning there's no cushion for component cost increases to eat into.

The year of gamer Ls

We're still digesting the Xbox price hike news.

In the TechRadar Slack channel, and our Managing Editor of Home Tech Matt Bolton pointed out the Series S will now cost more than an Xbox Series X did at launch. That's utterly ridiculous, right?

The good news? If you wanted to snatch up an Xbox Series X to play GTA 6 before the August cost increase you can still get it for $573 at Walmart. That'll save you $76.99-off the current asking price.

How big will GTA 6 be?

Let's leave Xbox alone for a minute and get back to GTA VI.

Lots of folks have theorised how big the file for GTA 6 might be on console, and whether those with stock SSD capacities might feel the pinch a bit. Red Dead Redemption 2 felt like it broke new ground when that came out in 2018, going over 90GB and coming on two discs.

I think it’s going to be around 110GB — surely it’s going to be larger than Red Dead Redemption 2, but offset a bit by modern optimisations and wizardry. What do you think?

Considering a new TV for GTA 6? We’ve got you covered

If you’re considering a new TV this year for GTA 6 — or the knockout rounds of the World Cup — then now might be a good time to pursue your options with the Prime Day sales occurring right now.

Luckily, we’ve done the hard work and can recommend a bunch of great TV deals, as outlined in our handy TikTok video below.

@techradar

♬ Beautiful Minimal Tech House - Yuki Takasaki

When will my copy be delivered?

GTA 5

(Image credit: Rockstar)

If you've seen that the physical editions of GTA 6 aren't actually discs but download codes you might be left wondering why you'd order one. Surely that would be worse than getting it digitally where you can pre-load the download ahead of time and start right away at launch?

Thankfully Rockstar has said that physical copies of GTA 6 will be available from November 12, which is actually ahead of the game’s November 19 release date. According to the developer, the reason for this is to allow fans to redeem their codes and pre-load the game so that they can play on day one.

Specific postage times will vary depending on your location (and whether your package happens to run into any issues with the carrier) but I would expect copies to start arriving on November 12.

Remember to check whether the retailer that you are placing a pre-order with has provided any of their own delivery estimates.

Not ready to preorder?

I'll be honest with you folks, I'm not sure I'm quite ready to get my preorder in right away for GTA 6.

I'm sure it'll be excellent, and some of the various deals that stores are already offering are tempting me, but so many other great games have launched this year and several are on sale right now for Prime Day.

Rob rounded up the best PS5 games of the year so far for us, and several including the likes of 007: First Light, Crimson Desert, and Starfield are discounted across the US and UK.

What are you most excited about seeing in the game?

GTA 6 Vice City

(Image credit: Rockstar Games )

I might be on the fence about GTA 6, but Rob Dwiar isn't. So what is he most excited for from the game?

"As a video game landscape nerd, I’m incredibly excited to explore the map and see how Rockstar has recreated, reinterpreted, and executed the living cityscape of Vice City and its environs. And to career through it at high speeds, of course, in cool cars.

GTA V did some amazing work with Los Santos and had wicked details all the way down to how people’s driveways were finished and how paths were laid with bricks or pavers. We then had Red Dead Redemption 2 with its absolutely beautiful and near-perfect wild west landscape.

With even more graphical prowess and technical expertise at their disposal, the world of GTA 6 is likely to be one of the richest we’ve ever seen in games…"

-Rob Dwiar, Managing Editor, TechRadar Gaming

Will supplies run out?

With Amazon briefly showing that PS5 GTA 6 stock had run out earlier today (don’t worry, it came back quickly) some might be wondering whether it’s possible that retailers will actually run out of stock of the game for good.

It’s hard to say without details about exact stock numbers, but my instinct is that it’s very unlikely. I suspect one of the big reasons Rockstar has gone for a code-in-box style release is that they are easier to produce at a mass scale. Printing a code is faster (and of course cheaper) than burning and printing designs on millions of discs.

Big retailers like Amazon and Best Buy presumably have vast amounts of stock allocated to them. If it does look like things could run thin, I imagine Rockstar will be able to produce more copies quickly.

But what if it does happen?

In the unlikely event that we do come into some kind of GTA 6 shortage, then there’s no real need to worry. As the physical version just contains a download code, there’s no practical reason to choose it over the digital version (which can inherently never run dry) unless you really, really love empty boxes on your shelf.

If you can’t find stock easily, you can pop on to the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store to lock a copy down in seconds.

Okay, but what about a console shortage?

GTA 6's Jason and PS5 digital console

(Image credit: Rockstar Games / Sony)

Now this is something that I would be more worried about. There’s definitely a chance that the allure of GTA 6 sends console demand shooting upwards, leading to shortages at retailers.

We know that companies like Sony are struggling with the impact of soaring RAM prices, alongside the increasing cost of over key components, which could create a situation where too few consoles are being produced to keep up with the hype.

If you want to be 100% sure that you will be able to play GTA 6 on day one and don’t yet have a PS5 or Xbox Series X or Series S, I’d recommend getting one relatively quickly if possible.

Of course, you have a double incentive to move fast, because the price of Xboxes is going to rise a lot, and who knows if Sony will follow suit…

No trailer three so far

Many fans expected Rockstar to release a new gameplay trailer to mark pre-orders going live. That hasn’t happened yet, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t. It’s difficult to predict when new material is going to appear online, and there might be a new trailer just around the corner.

We’ll just have to keep a close eye on Rockstar’s YouTube channel and social media pages…

Here’s trailer 2 again, in case you want to relive it

It’s been more than a year since this appeared, just to keep it in perspective.

There’s no trailer, but there is this…

Someone on Reddit has posted the new video that appears on the website — it’s just an aerial shot of the city, but hey, at least it’s video.

The new video on the website from r/GTA6

Someone has compared the new GTA 6 screenshots to Forza Horizon 6

Great work from this Redditor to capture angles as close to the GTA images as possible in Forza. Of course, the question remains of whether the GTA shots are an accurate depiction of what to expect from the game in reality, but it’s a fun album to flick through either way.

GTA 6 compared to Forza Horizon 6 from r/GTA6

Some retailers reportedly turned down GTA 6 pre-orders

Our pals at GamesRadar+ spoke to some specialist retailers who decided not to offer GTA 6 pre-orders because those retailers consider themselves to be physical media specialists, and the empty box of a 'physical' GTA 6 pre-order just didn't sit right with them. You've gotta respect the commitment, even in the face of a huge release.

Hello, hello! We're approaching nearly a full day after preorders kicked off in the US for GTA 6, and the good news is that retailers here still have plenty in stock, as well as in the UK. So, to make preordering easy, let's share our quick links to do just that for GTA 6 in the US and UK.

Good morning!

We're back again for another day of riding the GTA 6 pre-order train!

While all the major retailers do have stock holding steady, I'm holding out hope that we might see some more bundles starting to appear...

A glaring absence remains in the UK

Currys Repair Centre UK

(Image credit: Currys)

There is still no sign of Currys joining the action, and frankly, I am baffled by that.

While Currys (and a couple of others in the UK, truthfully) can be a little late to listing pre-orders — perhaps for limited edition DualSenses or similar — this is GTA 6!

I would have put big bucks on the electronics retail giant to be keen to get involved, and maybe even be one of the first to offer bundles. But here we are, and we can only keep checking to see if it even lists the game soon...

However, UK options are plentiful

Despite the absence of Currys, UK shoppers have plenty of options right now:

Speak of the devil...

Currys GTA 6 pre-order listings on a white background

(Image credit: Currys)

Maybe Currys saw my post this morning... as the retail giant is now live with its GTA 6 pre-order links!

Speaking of bundles

If you are looking for bundles in the UK though, then we have got two out in the wild right now that are worth going after for a dive into GTA 6 on PS5 or upgrading to the PS5 Pro. Over at EE, there's one on each console, and they are pretty good!

This bundle contains a PS5 Slim with a disc drive and a copy of GTA 6 at a reduced price. If you don't yet have a console and want a one-and-done option to dive in purely for GTA 6, then this is a super option.View Deal

The PS5 Pro is our bet for the best way to play the game at launch, so it could be worth upgrading to, or going for if you want the best possible technical experience.View Deal

The US is bundle-less...for now

Sadly, the US is without bundles so far, but I'm really hopeful we'll see some soon. I reckon there's a whole audience out there who will buy a new console for the first time for GTA 6.

As a result, the links below for the game only are your best bet in the US.

More game details appear out in the wild

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Could it be that we get more details about GTA 6's particulars from retailer listings? Maybe. Amazon Brazil seemed to divulge some more details about the game, but we can't be totally sure if they've come from Rockstar or have been added by someone else, but everything does seem believable.

Read more here: New GTA 6 details may confirm players can switch between Jason and Lucia and complete missions as a duo, encounter random world events, and more

OK I'm off for a lunch break now, but Dash is going to pop in and take over!

Hey everyone! Dash here to pick up the pre-order coverage extravaganza.

I'm going to start by taking a look at all the major retailers, and let you know what I find in just a minute!

Amazon is offering a (tiny) discount in the UK

I didn't spot anything that remarkable in my retailer trawl, though I did spot that Amazon currently has the game up for a tiny bit less than its RRP in the UK.

It's listed for £68, not the full £69.99. Does that technically make this our biggest GTA 6 discount yet?

You can check the listings out for yourself below:

Having placed my pre-order yesterday, I've been feeling a real appetite for all things GTA 6.

Unfortunately there's not been a new trailer yet (though I'm definitely hopeful that we will get one soon) so I've been rewatching the previous two.

Trailer 2 is definitely my favorite thanks to its honestly stunning visuals, but I do find the fact Trailer 1 ends with a 2025 release window pretty amusing.

If only we knew!

On that note, I actually just started my first playthrough of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in preparation for GTA 6.

It's one of the few older GTA games that I haven't played so far and, honestly, I think so far it holds up a lot better than GTA 3.

I've only played a few hours, but I'm loving the Vice City map even if it is a little bit small compared to the more recent games.

I'm really excited to see how the environment evolves when it comes back in GTA 6!

Grand Theft Auto Trilogy GTA 3 remaster

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

I'm playing Vice City through Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (not the best remaster, I know, but it's by far the easiest way to play on modern systems).

It comes with remasters of GTA 3 and San Andreas to play as well, and is currently discounted by almost 70% as part of the Steam Summer Sale if you fancy picking it up for a playthrough as well.

We have some predictions for when the next trailer might arrive

Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2 holding a lasso

(Image credit: Rockstar games)

With pre-orders live right now, many fans are wondering when the next big trailer for GTA 6 will be. We've only had two so far and not seen any extended gameplay footage, which would be unusual for most developers.

It's nothing new for Rockstar, though, and actually follows what the company did with Red Dead Redemption 2 a few years ago quite closely.

We've sat down and worked out the timelines to deliver some educated guesses of when the next marketing beats will come based on the company's past games. You can see them below.

Xbox console prices are about to rise for the second time in a year

We've got some bad news if you were planning to buy a new Xbox to play GTA 6. Microsoft has said that the prices of all of its consoles are going up across the board just before the game launches later this year.

You can see the new and prices below.

New Xbox console pricing

Old price

New price

Xbox Series S 512GB

$399

$499

Xbox Series S 1TB

$449

$599

Xbox Series X 1TB All-Digital

$599

$749

Xbox Series X 1TB Disc

$649

$899

Luckily, there are some deals right now that should help you avoid being stung. You can see them, and learn more about the announcement, below.

And with that, Rob is back in the building!

He'll be taking coverage over for the next few hours, but I'm sure that I'll be back talking all things GTA 6 pre-orders again soon.

That's right, I'm back

Hello again everyone! Who's ready for some more GTA 6 chat, pre-order info, and more?

What should we all play in the run-up to GTA 6?

This is something that I've been umming and ahhing over this week. My hype for GTA 6 has been given a huge boost by pre-orders happening, and I've been wondering what might scratch a bit of that GTA itch in the months leading up to release.

I did some thinking and put together this list!

These are the games I'd play before GTA 6 arrives later this year

It's goodbye from me, but hello again to Dash

My watch is over, but I've had enormous fun providing advice and links to hopefully help folks place their GTA 6 pre-orders this week!

For now, Dash is going to take over our live coverage as we keep the ball rolling as we head toward the weekend.

Hey everyone!

Dash stepping in once again, here to keep you up to date with the latest GTA 6 pre-order news.

Once again I'm going to start by taking a look around and letting you know the current situation, so hang tight for just a sec.

It's all quiet on the stock front right now. All the major retailers that we are tracking are still offering GTA 6 pre-orders right now, so it looks like those few hours when the game was showing as out of stock on Amazon US were just an isolated incident rather than a sign of trouble to come.

This is, of course, good news if you haven't placed you're pre-order yet, as the game is readily available!

I did spot that Amazon seems to have updated its listing in the UK though, and now tells customers up front that this is a code in box release (as it does for other games in that format).

The listing of the PS5, for example, now reads: "Grand Theft Auto VI - PlayStation 5 (Code in Box)"

The transparency is obviously a good thing, though I can't help but wonder whether some customers will be put off and choose to get it digitally on their consoles instead...

Do you have any big plans for release day?

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

The GTA 6 launch date of November 19 is still months away, but that doesn't mean that it's too early to start working on plans.

I'm sure plenty of those that have locked down a pre-order are already thinking about booking time off work, or even calling in 'sick' when the date arrives ;)

I'm sure that I'll be needed here, leading our launch day coverage but still... The idea of kicking back on the sofa at home with a mountain of drinks and snacks and diving in is pretty tempting!

GTA fans were debating physical releases a decade ago

Michael from GTA 5 wearing a grey suit and walking outside in the desert with a car behind him.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

I've seen loads of discussion about the fact that GTA 6 copies will come with a code in a box rather than a traditional game disc.

This isn't a new thing, though and it seems that even during the launch period of GTA 5 all the way in 2013, fans were debating the value of physical and digital game.

"I have been playing the game since launch, because my brother bought it and never played it. He recently moved and took the game with him, so I need to buy it myself. I have an external hard drive which I can store the game on so I don't have to worry if the Xbox breaks. Now what would you recommend?" asked a fan on a 12-year-old Reddit post.

"Physical is seemingly better in every way aside from you have to remove the disk [from the console]" another added.

The majority opinion at the time seems to be that physical games were better, though one dissenter wrote: "Wow. Really everyone is still on physical what is this the 20th century?"

Ahead of their time, perhaps?

You might be able to play GTA 6 on a handheld PlayStation

Image of the PlayStation Portal handheld gaming device

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

In a new interview, PlayStation boss Hideaki Nishino has said that being able to "pick up and play" is the most important quality for consoles nowadays and argued that Sony should take advantage of tech "that can be used in various forms and locations".

This could suggest that the console-maker is looking to go back into the handheld market, which it largely left after the underwhelming PlayStation Vita. Whether that will come in the form of a handheld version of the PS6 (which has been rumored for quite some time) or something else is yet to be seen, but there’s a chance that we’ll all be able to play GTA 6 on the go with a PlayStation handheld in future (other than the PS Portal, of course).

Read more: PlayStation CEO says Sony will be 'leveraging technologies that can be used in various forms and locations' for future consoles, potentially suggesting a PS6 handheld is in the cards

How long will GTA 6 be?

GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

For many, the length of a game is a big part of deciding whether it will represent good value for money or not. These days games certainly aren’t cheap (especially not when they cost $79.99 like GTA 6), so it makes sense to prioritize those that you know are going to offer many, many hours of entertainment.

You might be wondering how long GTA 6 will be before you lock in your purchase. The answer? We honestly don’t know, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t make some educated guesses.

It seems reasonable to assume that GTA 6 will be at least as long as GTA 5 was, if not longer. For most players, GTA 5 was about a 30-hour experience — though you can easily double that figure if you take your time exploring and completing side content.

Still, taking that baseline 30-hour figure as a potential minimum length would mean that you’re paying just $2.66 per hour of enjoyment which honestly seems like pretty good value compared to $20 movie tickets or a $60 meal out!

Reminder: There’s no Online at launch

GTA Online

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

The PlayStation Store page states that GTA 6 will only be a single-player experience at launch, which seems to rule out access to GTA 6 Online on day one. I suspect that it will be released at a later date, though, potentially even just a few weeks after the main game (as was the case with GTA 5’s GTA Online).

Still, you shouldn’t place a pre-order with the expectation of hopping online with your friends when November 19 arrives.

Could a proper physical release come down the line?

Following the news that physical copies of GTA 6 would only contain a code in a box, there have been loads of rumors that Rockstar is planning a proper physical version with a disc down the line. I’ve been looking into them and haven’t found any credible evidence that this is the plan yet, though it would make a lot of sense.

I suspect one of the big reasons Rockstar has gone for this type of release format is to avoid leaks ahead of launch. Once the game is officially out those naturally won’t be a concern, which could mean we start seeing proper physical copies on shelves.

Will you have enough storage for GTA 6?

Given the scale and detail of everything we're seeing, we have to assume the GTA 6 is going to be huge. GTA V on a PlayStation 5 is just under 90GB, though you need to have more space than that free on your driver for the installation process.

It's likely that GTA 6 will be a little larger, but maybe not too much larger, since there may be improvements to the file efficiency. Still, we're probably talking about something between 90GB and 120GB.

Once upon a time, we'd have expected lots of people up upgrade their PS5's internal storage in anticipation of the game, and the promise of lots of GTA 6 Online content in the future. But now that storage prices are spiking, maybe more people will just be erasing their current library to make space…

So long!

And with that, I’m heading off for the evening. That doesn’t mean our GTA 6 pre-order coverage is going to end, as I leave you in the hands of my capable TechRadar colleagues!

Good evening/good afternoon depending on where you are in the world. It's Marc back again here to look after this GTA live blog for a little while. I'll be keeping an eye on any GTA pre-order news and updating you as I get it.

As it happens, I'm also looking after our Prime Day deals live page in the UK, so head over there if you want to snap up a last-minute bargain — you have less than one hour to go…

If you're in the US, meanwhile, you'll want our list of the 150 best Prime Day deals still available.

Have people got GTA's 'locked shops' wrong?

The idea of there being locked shops in the Ultimate Edition has caused controversy, that's certain.

However, some people think this is more down to miscommunication than anything else, and that the shops will likely be a way to access cosmetic options that we always knew would be locked away for people with the Standard Edition anyway.

What do you think?

I think people are misunderstanding the whole "locked shops" thing for Ultimate Edition buyers from r/GTA6

Got questions about your pre-order?

Rockstar has posted a pre-order FAQ. There’s no guarantee your question will be answered there, but it’s a start!

Right, it's gone midnight when I am, so my brief stint here is over. I'll be leaving you with my colleague Jacob Krol. Good night!

Hello, hello! Jacob Krol is stepping in to carry our GTA 6 pre-orders live blog further, and we'll be going for at least a few more hours as I get closer to midnight here on the East Coast of the United States.

As a reminder, we have plenty of pre-order links above to score GTA 6 from retailers in the US and the UK. And let me know in the comments below if you've already locked in a pre-order.

How many trailers will there be?

Someone on Reddit pointed out that RDR2 got three cinematic trailers, then two gameplay trailers, and a final trailer before its launch. So far, we’ve had two cinematic trailers for GTA 6.

So, the question becomes, will Rockstar follow the same pattern? We’ll have to see a pretty steady flow of trailers from here every 6 weeks or so, if so…

How many trailers do you think GTA VI has left? from r/GTA6

GTA 6 vs GTA 5 screenshot comparison

Someone’s gone to great lengths to recreate the latest GTA 6 screenshots in GTA 5, to show the kind of graphical difference we’re talking about.

We still don’t know how true the GTA 6 shots will be to the final game, but it’s pretty damn exciting.

Some more GTA5 screenshots compared to GTA6. The visual upgrades are insane from r/GTA6

Alright, and with that, we're saying goodbye as we approach the weekend and are pretty close to the midnight hour here in New Jersey! It's been a pleasure, and if you're looking to pre-order GTA 6 in the US or the UK, check out the links at the top of the page.

Have a great night!

]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 6 is almost here — here are 7 features I’m desperately hoping for ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gta-6-is-almost-here-here-are-7-features-im-desperately-hoping-for ACwC7jsLRbFFHBT9xpX6f6 Mon, 25 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000 Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:43:25 +0000 false false false

It’s been a long time coming, and that’s putting it lightly. Numerous delays early in development and exasperated sighs of disappointment have finally culminated in a countdown – GTA 6 will arrive sometime in the near future. Or, will it? I sure hope so.

It’s a launch that has been rampant with rumors and speculation, some believable and some wildly theoretical. It’s unsurprising, really, considering players have had such a long time to think about what they want. Me included. But, although we form the mightiest of focus groups fuelled by impatience and big, beautiful dreams, it doesn’t mean Rockstar Games has to listen.

Famously, Rockstar has crafted GTA titles smothered in expansive open-worlds, freedom to explore, and interesting narratives, but how do you follow that up after 13 years? Well, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick claims, in an interview with CNBC, that they’re looking to create “the best thing anyone’s ever seen in entertainment.”

That’s an incredibly bold statement given how much expectation already surrounds the eventual release. And while they've been drip-feeding us trailers and teasers, there’s really not a lot to go on. All we can do is make wild guesses and hope that something sticks. So, here it is, the 7 features I’m desperately wishing for in GTA 6.

Gimmie, gimmie more story

For GTA 6, we know that we're going to have the first dual protagonists in the series, Lucia and Jason, a criminal pairing with both characters reportedly playable. Centred in Vice City in the fictional Leonida, it’s bustling city streets and big-time robberies, but how much story will we actually get?

The main story in GTA V took around 32 hours to complete. In Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar’s most ‘recent’ release (8 years ago), it was 50.5 hours of content. So, what’s next? Dare I be so greedy as to ask for more? Rockstar could give me triple digits at this point, and I'd snaffle it up.

Okay, maybe that’s a step too far. I’m definitely after a hefty story, but I’ll tell you why I’m concerned about its length. Frankly, I don’t want to see spoilers. I live an adult life now. 13 years ago, I could spend an entire day, or even a week, playing. I can’t now, even if I do write about games. But people will undoubtedly beat me through the narrative, and I don’t want to rush it. So, I’ve got more story on my wishlist.

Sharing the love between modes

Jason holding a gun in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Like any good sibling family rivalry, there’s always a favorite. Undoubtedly, for GTA V, it’s favorite kid is the Online mode. What’s kept it thriving and evolving over the past 13 years is the swathe of updates introducing massive narrative content like The Doomsday Heist and entirely new places like the Diamond Casino & Resort. But that’s triggered a lot of discourse amongst fans who argue that the focus on the Online mode has ultimately diminished the scope of the main single-player game. And I agree.

I don’t blame it. GTA V Online is a real moneymaker, but with Rockstar currently holding back on the price of GTA 6, I’m thinking we’re about to be making a hefty investment, and I want a return on it. Online in GTA 6 is inevitable, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. What I’m simply hoping for is a little extra something-something for the main game players to keep us ticking along. There’s nothing wrong with a little downloadable content (DLC), but please share the updates to single players as well.

Expansive interiors

Cal relaxes on a pool float in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

There are rumors that in GTA 6, you’ll be able to enter a lot more buildings. But, like a lot of the chat around Rockstar's upcoming release, fan theories are rife. There’s even been whispers suggesting that around a massive 70% of the buildings will be fully enterable, which seems like a pretty risky statement given it was a lot smaller in GTA V.

But, as we’ve seen with Red Dead Redemption 2, there’s the possibility for a lot more scope around exploring inside interiors. So, I’d definitely hope for at least a little more of that in GTA 6. I'm not asking for 70%.

With this, I’d also welcome more options for homes, as well as wider opportunities to decorate your interior. I’m partial to a Sim, very partial in fact. So, the concept of being able to have more control over where I live and what it looks like has always been a big part of my GTA experience. A few more fully customizable properties certainly wouldn’t go amiss.

Mo money, mo problems

In GTA V Online, a combination of running passive businesses and carrying out active missions/heists is a surefire way to build up your income. But I don’t have enough time to spend doing all of these, and I also don’t love the grindy nature of it. What I don’t mind grinding over, though, is more natural ways of bringing in cash like robbing establishments, investing that bad money, and working my way up over time. And I think making money at a steadier rate will also create a nicer balance for the entire game, stopping players from getting too rich too fast.

I think there’s a pretty good scope for this, though, considering the storyline will seemingly focus on a criminal duo in a Bonnie and Clyde situation. I’m just hoping the missions force you to think about the way you’re making money and potentially even earn you some notoriety along the way. If I’m making more money, I want to have more problems, but I don’t just want to commit to constant robberies and heists.

Let’s get physical

Men sit on a riverboat with a crocodile in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

With a return to Vice City, there also seems to be a lot of conversation around the return of sports, and hopefully, on my wishlist, the inclusion of ones we haven’t seen before. Or at least, making them playable. In the GTA 6 trailers, there have certainly been some hints of this, like basketball courts and stadiums lighting up the landscape, but will we be playing it, or simply watching it?

I’m keen to have more hobbies and competing in new (and old) sports around Leonida seems like the perfect downtime. I’d happily take the bowling from GTA IV back, if I could compete in a league and make some nice cash and a shiny trophy to boot. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to introduce Padel in some way. I don't even play sports games generally, but there's something about playing them in GTA 6 that makes it a hell of a lot more appealing.

No more flying futurism

Lucia sits on a bike in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Out with the new and in with the old. You heard. One of my favorite things about the GTA franchise has always been how realistic it is. But when they introduced weird flying vehicles like cars and bikes with rocket launchers, well, realism went out the window. No, no one’s forcing me to buy a $4 million Deluxo, but when someone else is whipping around with one in GTA Online, it’s jarring. It’s like that Treehouse of Horror episode in The Simpsons when Homer enters the real world – it doesn't look right at all.

I could just about put up with the chaos of Online before they introduced these soaring spectacles, but since the update, I've found it a nightmare. I don't even mind them flying around in the skies; it's just how crazy deadly they are. Plus, not only is it super expensive, but it also leads me into my next and final wishlist request. Here's looking at you, griefers.

A sanctum away from griefers

Two men in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Cue System of a Down's Toxicity. I'm a simple player. When I'm not logging in with my friends, I'm definitely up for heading into Online, and since I need other players to get stuff done, it's a necessity. But that decision has become harder and harder to make when I'm getting absolutely griefed by another, much better, player.

If I could ask for one last thing on my wishlist, it would be that they incorporate some sort of hideout mode from griefers. If the toxic player behavior can't be penalized, then I'll take an escape from it instead because I do still really want to play with everyone. I just don't want them to hunt me down like Taron Egerton in that recent Netflix thriller, Apex.

In all fairness, I do think that a lot of people grief because they're desperate for something new to do, and hopefully with GTA 6's arrival, everyone's going to get along... At least for a little bit.

]]> <![CDATA[ This new Best Buy 'leak' claims GTA 6 pre-orders begin on May 18 — but I wouldn't hold your breath yet ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/this-new-best-buy-leak-claims-gta-6-pre-orders-begin-on-may-18-but-i-wouldnt-hold-your-breath-yet u4ynG7hPrsKPJY84Lig8CU Fri, 15 May 2026 10:29:04 +0000 false false false
  • An apparent Best Buy affiliate campaign email suggests Grand Theft Auto 6's pre-order date is set for May 18, 2026
  • The campaign's duration is set between May 18 and May 21
  • Take-Two Interactive will have its earnings call on May 21

Rockstar Games' scheduled November 19, 2026, launch date for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 remains in question after multiple delays. However, a new leak suggests that the release date may indeed be locked in.

Best Buy has reportedly leaked the pre-order date for GTA 6 via an affiliate email, first reported by content creator Frogboyx1Gaming. The email shows an affiliate campaign labelled 'GTA 6 Pre Order (Physical Game)' lasting from May 18 to May 21, strongly implying pre-orders will open on May 18.

The email has since been corroborated by leaker Tom Henderson and several users online and on Reddit, and with Take-Two Interactive's earnings call set for May 21, the timing does line up.

Another person has received the BestBuy GTA6 Preorder Email with video proof from r/GTA6

Jason Duval at a pool table in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

However, Rockstar has been rather unpredictable in its marketing for its games, particularly amid all the theories about when the next trailer will arrive.

Take-Two Interactive's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, previously stated that marketing for the game would begin in summer 2026, and it's not summer just yet. There's a decent chance marketing could kick off much earlier (i.e., from May 18), but history tells us that proceedings may not go exactly as fans predict.

One thing is almost certain: an update on GTA 6 is likely imminent, as the earnings call edges closer, notably, on May 21, when the supposed affiliate campaign from Best Buy ends.

I'd love to eat my words if a third trailer does drop and the doors open for pre-orders, but perhaps it's better to be cautious on excitement levels for now.

]]> <![CDATA[ Take-Two CEO says GTA 6 isn't coming to PC day one because console players are the 'core consumer' — but the real reason is obvious ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/take-two-ceo-says-gta-6-isnt-coming-to-pc-day-one-because-console-players-are-the-core-consumer-but-the-real-reason-is-obvious RDLa356BKe5QSmQVB4T65k Tue, 05 May 2026 11:17:35 +0000 Thu, 07 May 2026 05:19:20 +0000 false false false
  • Take-Two Interactive boss Strauss Zelnick says Grand Theft Auto 6 won't come to PC day one, as console is Rockstar Games' focus
  • Zelnick says Rockstar wants to sservethe 'core consumer' on consoles
  • A PC launch at a later date may encourage consumers to buy the game again

Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 is fast approaching, slated to launch on November 19, 2026, and one platform has been completely ruled out on day one.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick effectively confirmed that GTA 6 won't be coming to PC at launch, with Rockstar prioritizing consoles. This debunks some rumors that suggested Rockstar may have been preparing for a surprise release on PC sooner than most expected.

Rockstar leaving PC as an afterthought shouldn't come as a huge surprise, as this is the trend it has been following for years. Past games including GTA 4, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2 all came to PC after a console launch.

When asked why GTA 6 won't be launching on PC immediately, Zelnick said: "Rockstar always starts on console because I think with regard to a release like that you're judged by serving the core," reinforcing the idea of console players being the main audience.

Lucia Caminos in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

"Like really serving the core consumer. If your core consumer isn't there, if they're not served first and best, you kind of don't hit your other consumers."

There's no doubt that consoles are easier for Rockstar Games to optimize for. However, I suspect that's only half of the reason why GTA 6 won't launch on PC on day one.

The other half is that Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games are fully aware that there are more sales on the table if they can push consumers to double-dip and buy the game again once a PC version launches.

It's a smart business move, but it's also frustrating for us PC players. Hopefully, the wait won't be too long.

]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 6 desperately needs this one feature to give PC players a boost — and I can't believe I'm saying this, but it should take a gamer-friendly page from Ubisoft's book ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/gta-6-desperately-needs-this-one-feature-to-give-pc-players-a-boost-and-i-cant-believe-im-saying-this-but-it-should-take-a-gamer-friendly-page-from-ubisofts-book WW7xJ4CKPnAtXbjdvyoRCa Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:37:24 +0000 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:11:58 +0000 false false false

Gaming's biggest event is edging closer, with Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 poised to launch on November 19, 2026 after multiple delays. As far as consumers are aware, GTA 6 will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, so it appears as though PC players will have to wait longer.

Unless Rockstar has a surprise up its sleeve within its next scheduled announcement, consoles will be the only place to play the highly anticipated title day one, and it's not much of a surprise, considering the behemoth of a task that is developing GTA 6 for one platform alone due to its massive scale.

As a result, primary PC players like myself will likely be turning their attention to consoles to avoid a potential long wait for a PC port. This is a reality I've accepted since the game's announcement, but there's one significant issue that needs to be addressed.

GTA 6 absolutely needs cross-save functionality

Grand Theft Auto 6.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Game developers and publishers such as Ubisoft, Larian Studios, and CD Projekt Red have all implemented cross-progression functionality in games, notably the likes of Assassin's Creed Shadows, Baldur's Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Cross progression is integral to allowing players to pick up exactly where they left off, across both PC and console. For instance, if I own Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam and PS5, I can pick it up on a Steam Deck or Lenovo Legion Go handheld on the go and then dive back into my save on my TV when I get home.

This is incredibly convenient for gamers who play titles that are timed exclusives, as users can confidently progress on one platform and then dip into a more complete or graphically advanced version (usually a PC port) without having to start over when it arrives.

That's exactly why I want it for Rockstar's GTA 6. I would hate to buy the game on my PS5, spend hundreds of hours in the main story, and maybe even craft a personal online character (if online is available on day one), only to be locked out of it all when the game eventually comes to PC.

Jason Duval outside of hotel

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Ubisoft and other game developers have been doing this for years, and if Rockstar followed in the same footsteps, it would only encourage gamers on both PC and console to buy two copies of GTA 6.

I've been quite confused about why more game developers haven't included this for multiplatform games, as I can't think of a single way in which it would harm the developer or consumer.

While I imagine there are likely complications involved due to differences in file formats for saves between PC and console, I'd argue that avoiding cross-save functionality has the potential to actually hinder sales. Some PC owners are already hesitant to buy a console-exclusive game at launch if they think it will eventually come to PC, and have to start progression all over again.

One can only hope Rocktar is taking notes...

]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 6 boss says marketing will begin 'soon', solidifying earlier promise ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gta-6-boss-says-marketing-will-begin-soon-solidifying-earlier-promise azwbruhwMortbUxREkQGG7 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:05:27 +0000 Mon, 04 May 2026 05:37:12 +0000 false false false
  • Take-Two Interactive CEO, Strauss Zelnick, says the Grand Theft Auto 6 marketing campaign will begin soon
  • He previously said the main marketing campaign would begin around summer
  • The next Take-Two earnings call is set for May 21

Rockstar Games' silence on Grand Theft Auto 6 has left gamers worried it may face another delay, but a recent development suggests its November 19, 2026, launch date is locked in.

In an interview with Variety, cited in a new Game File report, Take-Two Interactive's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, gave an update on GTA 6's planned marketing schedule, stating it's coming 'soon'. That said, he declined to give a specific date.

This comes after Zelnick previously stated marketing would begin around the summer. The CEO also expressed confidence that Rockstar Games wouldn't have any more delays in the pipeline, stating: "We don't spend money on marketing until we're pretty close to release."

Summer is now fast approaching, so it's safe for fans to predict that either a new trailer or a major update from Rockstar will arrive in late May to kickstart the marketing wave for arguably the most anticipated game of all time, thus far.

Vice City location in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

If marketing begins without the dreaded delay message, it may be enough to suggest that GTA 6 will indeed launch on November 19, 2026, considering Zelnick's statement insinuating that launch dates are locked in once the main marketing campaign begins.

In that case, it's now a waiting game to see whether Rockstar is confident enough to stick to its current November date, and with Take-Two's next earnings call set for May 21, updates are certainly imminent. Notably, the earnings call is within the same time period GTA 6 was initially set to launch in (May 26), so it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see Rockstar use this time as the beginning of marketing.

Most importantly, the months ahead should be exciting for gamers, with Summer Game Fest in June, featuring several new game announcements, and possibly something fresh on GTA 6.

]]> <![CDATA[ 'There will be things in GTA 5 that they will have in GTA 6 that you look at and go, "I should have seen that coming'' — Former Rockstar developer suggests the upcoming game will feature mechanics from previous titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/there-will-be-things-in-gta-5-that-they-have-in-gta-6-that-you-look-at-and-go-i-should-have-seen-that-coming-former-rockstar-developer-suggests-the-upcoming-game-will-feature-mechanics-from-previous-titles-like-red-dead-redemption-2 utpHPsDUDEf9mcMRePtUS5 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:48:05 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:07:57 +0000 false false false
  • Former GTA 5 audio designer Rob Carr thinks GTA 6 will feature mechanics from Red Dead Redemption 2
  • He points to the game's Dead Eye system, which was also borrowed from the first Red Dead in GTA 5
  • He says, "I'll be surprised if they don't use something from Red Dead 2"

Former Rockstar Games developer Rob Carr believes that the studio will borrow mechanics from Red Dead Redemption 2 for Grand Theft Auto 6.

In a lengthy interview with the Kiwi Talkz podcast, Carr, who worked as an audio designer at the prolific studio for games like LA Noire and Grand Theft Auto 5, discussed GTA 6 and what he's interested in seeing, specifically the systems Rockstar will implement from previous games.

Carr recalls a mission from GTA 4, where all three characters connect in the middle for a mission, saying, "It's easy to see that that's the blueprint of the three-player system in GTA 5" with Trevor, Michael, and Franklin.

"I'm really, really quite keen to see what they do because there will be things in GTA 5 that they will have in GTA 6 that you look at and go, 'We should have seen that coming. That was, oh man, that's really clever,' because they're [Rockstar] very good at that, you know," Carr said.

He continued, saying, "There are things for sure I feel that they did in GTA 5 that they will definitely want to expand on and use as either a core mechanic or a main plot point in GTA 6. I'd be incredibly surprised if they don't do anything like that. I'd be very, very surprised."

Later in the podcast, Carr also pointed out Red Dead Redemption's Dead Eye system, which, if you recall, was used as a core combat feature for Michael in GTA 5 and was also featured in Red Dead Redemption 2.

"Even on GTA 5, they took the Dead Eye system," he said. "They used the Dead Eye as one of the perks for one of the characters. You've got the Dead Eye thing that Michael used, I think you've got the slow-mo driving thing for Franklin, and the basically berserker mode for Trevor."

According to Carr, these mechanics weren't simply thrown in at the last minute, but were intentional ways to expand each character's arsenal, so it's entirely possible they could make a return in some form in GTA 6.

"They're all things that, you know – key things have been used in previous titles that they wanted to expand upon," Carr explained. "So I'll be surprised if they don't use something from Red Dead 2."

GTA 6 was initially slated to launch next month, but will now release on November 19, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

]]> <![CDATA[ 'We found out at the same time as the public' — Capcom and Ubisoft devs were out of the loop on Nvidia DLSS 5 involvement, adding to the AI controversy ]]> https://www.techradar.com/computing/gaming-components/we-found-out-at-the-same-time-as-the-public-capcom-and-ubisoft-devs-were-out-of-the-loop-on-nvidia-dlss-5-involvement-adding-to-the-ai-controversy sFP3a5Y2q4QC2LjEHgJSq6 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:39:39 +0000 false false false
  • Capcom and Ubisoft game developers weren't informed about Nvidia DLSS 5 being used by their publisher
  • One developer stated they found out 'at the same time' as the public
  • Former Rockstar game dev condemns DLSS 5, claiming it's a 'complete AI re-render'

Nvidia is under fire for its latest reveal of DLSS 5, and rightly so, particularly after CEO Jensen Huang's response to the ongoing backlash for its generative AI use — and the latest revelation could make the controversy much worse.

As reported by Insider Gaming, Capcom and Ubisoft game developers apparently weren't informed by their publishers regarding their involvement in Nvidia's DLSS 5. This comes after Jensen Huang stated gamers are "completely wrong" about Nvidia's "content-control generative AI".

One of the Ubisoft developers stated, "We found out at the same time as everyone else". Similarly, Capcom developers were reportedly shocked by the publisher's involvement, considering its "anti-AI" stance.

Resident Evil Requiem shown comparatively with DLSS 5 on and off

(Image credit: Nvidia / Capcom)

This is so disrespectful to the intentional art direction of devs. If devs wanted to lean in to hyper realism they would. This also drastically changes key aspects of visuals like character features, focal points, lighting and so on. What a terrible invention. Nvidia should shelve this one 😭

— @kortizart.bsky.social (@kortizart.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-03-19T12:33:20.060Z

Game developers across multiple studios and publishers have shared the same sentiment (as evident above). Notably, a former Rockstar developer, Mike York (known as York Street Gaming on YouTube), implied that DLSS 5 poses a significant threat to game art, considering the changes it makes to character models.

"This isn't just some lighting, this is like a complete AI re-render," York said. "You're no longer looking at the game [Resident Evil Requiem] anymore. This is scary. This is like an AI filter over every frame."

While Nvidia and Bethesda's Todd Howard have consistently tried to reassure gamers that DLSS 5 use in games will be controlled and tuned by developers, it hasn't done much to allay concerns — and it's not a big surprise, as many are already opposed to generative AI in sectors outside of gaming.

As of its initial reveal, it takes two RTX 5090s to utilize DLSS 5, and that may scale down to one GPU by the time it launches this autumn. However, gamers, developers, and frankly, the majority of consumers online have made it clear that generative AI is not wanted in gaming, and certainly not when it's changing character model details, which is integral to developers' intended art.

]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 6 arrives in the era of podcasting, and I’m betting it’ll absolutely parody wellness bros, true crime, and Reddit relationship confessions ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gta-6-arrives-in-the-era-of-podcasting-and-im-betting-itll-absolutely-parody-wellness-bros-true-crime-and-reddit-relationship-confessions J2cJbG7UcPXenehrVPTtYn Sat, 14 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000 false false false

Grand Theft Auto 6 will (hopefully) arrive later this year, just over 13 years after the last entry in the series, and as such, it’s fair to say that the world has changed quite a bit since then. And of course, Grand Theft Auto has become a franchise that’s known for critiquing and parodying the modern world by holding a mirror up to the best and worst of the current cultural zeitgeist.

Unfortunately, this means that podcasting is likely well and truly in the crosshairs this time around, given the absolute explosion in the popularity of podcasts and the often controversial figures that host them in recent years.

GTA 5 mostly took aim at talk shows and radio, but in the years since, it’s clear that podcasting and streaming have stuck the final nail in the coffin for those now ancient formats.

So, how will GTA 6 handle idle radio and podcasting? Will it feature a dedicated station or an in-game app that allows access to a host of podcasting shows? I’d bet money on it. As such, here are five styles of podcast that I believe will be parodied, torn apart, and given that distinctive Grand Theft Auto flavor in GTA 6.

Pseudo health gurus

A woman passes a bag of blue pils through a car window to a man sat in the car.

(Image credit: Rockstar)

The rise of the health podcaster has been a difficult one to witness in recent years. On one hand, getting advice from genuinely well-qualified experts beamed directly into your eyes via your phone is an understandably attractive proposition. On the other hand, many of the most popular podcasts in the health genre also feature individuals who have something to gain, a product or treatment to sell, and this can lead to very dangerous consequences.

Now, I think Rockstar will go down the route of parody here, and I’m betting we’ll see characters that are more over the top and sleazier than well-meaning healthcare professionals. A podcast promoting unregulated supplements, regimes that encourage you to sleep less and plunge yourself into giant vats of ice more, for example, could well be on the cards. When paired with an in-game character - perhaps one that you can meet and complete missions for in the world - and this could be a very fertile space for chaos, hilarity, and plenty of winks and nudges toward the camera.

Untrue Crime

A seedy motel forecourt at night, lit by neon signs

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

The crime-ridden series of Grand Theft Auto is primed for a dedicated Vice City true crime podcast. Better yet, you’ll likely be involved in some of the wrongdoings happening all around the city yourself, and it’d be very intriguing indeed to hear about ongoing cases that involve characters you meet and even work with throughout GTA 6’s story.

I’d expect a decidedly more outrageous take on popular true crime podcasts to be just the ticket, hosted by podcasters who - despite doing their best to sound impartial and sensitive to the abhorrent crimes being committed in Vice City - are nonetheless happy to morbidly profit off of it all.

True crime podcasts tend to walk a very fine line between titillation and informative discussion, and GTA 6’s version would do well to abandon that line altogether. From the trailers released so far, it’s clear that there are some very eccentric and downright despicable characters at play, and I’d love to see one of them become the subject of an ongoing podcast series that tracks the in-game murders they’re carrying out.

Vice City CEOs

A seaplane soars above the Florida Keys

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Ah, CEOs, we sure do love to hate them.

Unfortunately, we also love to listen to them, with entire industries continuing to thrive on the CEO-forward podcasting space. There will obviously be a huge mega corporation in GTA 6, and those that front them are ripe for the picking as far as in-game podcast series are concerned. In a world where billionaires are trying to make themselves immortal, while others do everything in their power just to seem likeable, a video game that parodies the ridiculous figures we hold up so high doesn’t seem absurd at all.

What I would like to see here is a slightly more subtle take on the billionaire CEO. It’s all well and good having direct analogues to Musk, Zuckerberg and the like, but I think I speak for everyone when I say I’ve had my fill of those guys for one lifetime. The obvious play would be a The Joe Rogan Experience parody, but I’d rather Rockstar went in a different direction. The Diary of a CEO could be the way to go, allowing Rockstar to parody seemingly sincere podcast discussions centered around individuals who are just so transparently trying to sell an agenda or product. I’d love to see in-game characters appear on this show and make comments on the disruption you and your crew are undoubtedly going to be causing throughout Vice City.

AITA

A biker couple pose outside a club

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Relationship advice podcasts are extremely popular these days, and many of them pull from Reddit’s AITA (Am I the A**hole) threads for content.

These threads are usually posted by someone wondering whether their actions are justified in certain situations, and over the years, it’s really taken off as a bleak but undeniably moreish look into the human psyche. There are plenty of podcasts that do a great job of mining this subject for discussion, most notably Two Hot Takes, and a Vice City analogue could really help flesh out the tone of GTA 6’s world.

Of course, GTA 6’s dual protagonists are in a relationship too, and it'd be hilarious to have a series of posts read out on a relationship podcast that are clearly written by one of the couple. Minor squabbles about how the two live together could play out in real time, and could even be reflected in the protagonists’ living quarters. Even without involving any major characters, a podcast that reads out anonymous posts pertaining to people you’ve actually met in-game would be brilliant.

Drag Race

Jason Duval outside of hotel, leaning against a tree

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Vice City is expected to have a truly bustling nightlife scene in GTA 6. Hopefully, the game does justice to the queer spaces and vibrant diversity of modern-day Miami, which has one of the largest and most prominent LGBTQ communities in the United States.

A great way to bolster this representation would be to include a Vice City drag scene, with local celebrities and revered drag queens. This would reflect the rise of drag culture over the last ten years, especially in the mainstream, with shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race having had a massive impact on queer representation.

While it’s fun to imagine all of the ways podcasts could be parodied in GTA 6 in a negative light, it’d be lovely to have some genuine positivity by offering a podcast hosted by two prominent drag queens. This would largely take Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamo’s The Bald and the Beautiful as inspiration, and could really help flesh out an area of GTA 6’s world that should be front and center in the world design. The game’s main story will likely have you diving deep into nightclubs, queer bars and bustling counter culture anyway, so having some properly fleshed out drag queen characters would be a great way to tie things all together. Have them host a podcast about their lives, mention popular spots in Vice City, and I think this could be a real winner.

Whether or not GTA 6 will feature in-game podcasts remains to be seen. I certainly think it will, especially given Rockstar’s past care in fleshing out radio stations and talk shows.

While we wait for more on GTA 6, be sure to check out my article on the six movies that GTA 6 absolutely has to reference in missions.

Elsewhere, there’s the news of a former Grand Theft Auto technical director discussing GTA 6’s most recent delay.

]]> <![CDATA[ If GTA 6 gets delayed again, it may never live up to its hype – here's exactly why ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/if-gta-6-gets-delayed-again-it-may-never-live-up-to-its-hype-heres-exactly-why DapddN2nxg9usZoAVaYyN8 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:22:28 +0000 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:24:42 +0000 false false false
  • Fans are expecting another GTA 6 delay into 2027
  • This comes after reports suggest the physical edition will be delayed to prevent leaks
  • Grand Theft Auto 6 is still slated to release on November 19, 2026

Rockstar Games is still hard at work attempting to fulfill its new November 19, 2026, release date for GTA 6, after multiple delays following its initial announcement in 2022, and doubts about the current slate are rampant.

How do we know? Well, we asked our readers via our TechRadar WhatsApp channel (available for the latest news and updates) whether the long-anticipated title will be worth the wait. This comes after two separate delays, with the latest one pushing the launch date further down the line to fall in 2026 (was previously set for May 26, 2026), along with rumors that more delays could be in the pipeline.

The overwhelming majority of votes (a major 59%) side with 'ask me in 2027', which suggests that many believe another delay may actually be in store. This isn't far-fetched either, since recent reports state that Rockstar Games plans to delay the physical edition of GTA 6 to prevent spoilers before all players can get their hands on.

While that isn't exactly a delay for the game itself, many consumers are intent on owning physical copies of games, and this measure might leave most without physical copies since gamers will want to be playing on day one.

Besides, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier recently reported that the last he heard from the hotly anticipated game is that it wasn't content-complete. It must be noted that this is considered a normal thing for Rockstar Games, which explains why the final product is often well polished, but it may not be enough to shake fans' worries of another delay.

While 22% of the voters believe GTA 6 will be worth the long wait, a fair amount also believe it won't – and based on the 59% of voters with delay concerns, it's enough to infer that Rockstar's (arguably) most anticipated game may not live up to the hype.

Opinion: another GTA 6 delay could be problematic

DreQuan in GTA 6

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

There's no doubt in my mind that Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 will be an absolute blockbuster, selling millions of copies on its launch day. However, if another delay truly is in store (especially a lengthy one), more questions of whether what the game has to offer was really worth waiting so long for.

In other words, the longer this game continues to be delayed, there's a risk that Rockstar Games may miss the right time to capture and utilize the hype, no matter how good GTA 6 is.

That's pure speculation on my side: frankly, the game hasn't started its full marketing campaign yet, and my tone might change drastically once that time arrives. All it took for Rockstar Games to quell concerns and frustrations after the first delay was 2nd trailer and plenty of in-game screenshots to get the hype train up and running again.

I truly do hope the November 19, 2026 slate is final, and I'm sure everyone will be praying for a smooth sailing development journey for developers at Rockstar Games, so we can all enjoy what's been anticipated for a long 13 years.

]]> <![CDATA[ CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 4 may be up there with GTA 6 in rumored production costs ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/cd-projekt-reds-the-witcher-4-may-be-up-there-with-gta-6-in-rumored-production-costs jqvnC8qLFfA9CVJKhRDfJ3 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:03:20 +0000 false false false
  • CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 4 is rumored to cost nearly $1 billion
  • A Polish analyst claims it's costing around $390 million apiece for development and marketing respectively
  • This comes shortly after the analyst claimed new DLC is inbound for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

CD Projekt Red's next instalment in The Witcher franchise is one that is highly anticipated, with The Witcher 4 seemingly set on heavily improving upon its predecessor's RPG elements and realism – and it looks like the developer may be following in the footsteps of Rockstar Games with GTA 6.

And by that I mean there's apparently a giant budget backing the RPG. As reported by TweakTown, a Polish analyst, Mateusz Chrzanowski, claims that The Witcher 4 will cost CD Projekt Red around $800 million, with supposedly $390 million spent on the game's development – and the same amount on marketing. This is a rough estimation based on the conversion of PLN 1.4 billion to dollars.

This latest rumor comes from the same source who recently suggested that CD Projekt Red will be releasing a new DLC expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in May 2026. While there's no clarification on that just yet, it's worth noting that CD Projekt Red is rumored to be working on multiple projects, so it's not a far-fetched assertion.

It's a bigger leap to believe the claim regarding the size of the budget here, though. A spend of around $800 million for The Witcher 4 would place the title within the same ballpark as top games such as GTA 6, which going by speculation has racked up costs of up to $2 billion in its production.

The Witcher 4
CD Projekt Red
Jason Duval outside of hotel
Rockstar Games

Still, it is true that major releases like these have big expectations behind them (especially GTA 6), and obviously that will come with quite a price in terms of production and marketing.

A majority of triple-A modern games have massive budgets behind them, and one notable example is Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man 2, which reportedly had a budget of $315 million.

This is a trend that has been ongoing for the past few years, and it's showing no signs of slowing down whatsoever.

Analysis: big budgets for games aren't always justified

The Witcher 4

(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)

Big budgets don't always mean big successes in the games industry.

Take, for example, the case of Concord from Firewalk Studios (admittedly not a single-player game, but certainly an eye-opening affair in terms of being a high-profile failure). This reportedly cost $400 million to make, and in case you didn't know, Concord was a massive failure that resulted in a shutdown two weeks after its launch, and the closure of the developer responsible.

This is just one of many examples of massive budgets going to waste, and while I doubt this will happen with CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 4, I still have some concerns – especially after Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous launch.

About the only developer I've seen consistently back up its production costs is Rockstar Games, with critically acclaimed launches like Red Dead Redemption 2 and, of course, GTA 5.

]]> <![CDATA[ Rockstar has launched its own mod marketplace ahead of the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/rockstar-has-launched-its-own-mod-marketplace-ahead-of-the-launch-of-grand-theft-auto-6 cE75qaMc7xWHAfd6V3Xvx3 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:56:44 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:07:04 +0000 false false false
  • Rockstar Games has launched its new modding storefront, Cfx Marketplace
  • The website is currently available to a select few GTA Online and Red Dead Online creators who can sell their mods to players
  • Some mods are free, while others will be paid

Rockstar Games has launched the Cfx Marketplace, a website dedicated to the buying and selling of GTA Online and Red Dead Online mods.

The Cfx Marketplace is officially live and is described as a "curated digital storefront where talented FiveM/RedM creators can share and sell their work" (via IGN).

"Made just for you. The official Rockstar modding UGC marketplace for RedM & FiveM. Discover assets, scripts and upload your own creations using the portal," the homepage reads.

The website is currently only available to a select group of creators, but players who enjoy modding can browse the storefront and purchase free and paid mods.

Some mods already uploaded include the likes of new maps, characters, outfits, vehicles, customizable features, scripts, and more that expand each game's world.

Creators can sell individual mods, as well as creator bundles that include several at once, and some already have thousands of downloads.

Rockstar and parent company Take-Two used to be very against modding, even accusing FiveM, the website that hosts GTA Online mods, of piracy a few years back.

However, the studio later went on to purchase Cfx.re, a popular GTA Online modding team, in 2023, which is probably why its latest Cfx Marketplace probably sounds so familiar.

At this time, Rockstar's new modding site is only for GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, but it could potentially host Grand Theft Auto 6 mods in the future, when the game eventually comes to PC, that is, or even the next iteration of GTA Online.

The game is expected to launch on November 19, 2026, for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 6 needs to be more GTA 4 than GTA 5 — please Rockstar, make driving cars feel like steering large ships again ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gta-6-needs-to-be-more-gta-4-than-gta-5-please-rockstar-make-driving-cars-feel-like-steering-large-ships-again 8fK5qqdu6mqtNg4Pzvah5h Wed, 14 Jan 2026 01:00:00 +0000 false false false

Grand Theft Auto 6 looms large as 2026 kicks off. Whether or not the game actually comes out this year remains to be seen, and I’m sure that particular discussion will overshadow much of the conversation around GTA 6 as the months go by. While there are indeed other AAA titles of note coming out this year, from the tantalizing and mysterious Switch 2-exclusive The Duskbloods to the sure-fire hit of Marvel’s Wolverine, it’s clear that Grand Theft Auto 6 is voraciously eating up all of the air in the space.

It’s inevitable that GTA 6 will be a huge hit regardless of what shape it lands in, and however Rockstar has decided to shift the franchise’s formula forward. At present, we’ve not seen gameplay, though we do know that it’ll be a Bonnie and Clyde-esque thriller set in the sun-soaked bustle of Vice City. As such, it’s time to dig into what we expect, and hope, GTA 6 to actually be like as a game, and to do that, it’s most helpful to look back at what has come before.

GTA 5 is undoubtedly Rockstar’s biggest hit so far, and it’s easy to see why. The moment-to-moment action is snappy, the setting is bright, funny, and decidedly silly, and the driving is streamlined and arcadey. Regardless of what you’re driving, controls are tight, predictable, and easy to master. It’s the easiest GTA game to play, and it’s perhaps the safest version of Grand Theft Auto from a design perspective.

One only needs to load up GTA 4 to see just how Rockstar’s approach to game design and storytelling has changed over the years. I’m hoping GTA 6 to be a continuation of this gradual evolution, but I’d be lying if I said I wanted it to lean more into GTA 5’s characteristics than GTA 4’s.

There are many aspects of Grand Theft Auto 4 that I wholeheartedly prefer over Grand Theft Auto 5, and as we approach the imminent release of a brand new GTA game, I’m hoping Rockstar looks past the juggernaut success of GTA 5 and adopts GTA 4’s design philosophy instead.

The Cannonball Run

A truck smashes through a police car in an attempt to escape

(Image credit: Rockstar)

For a series named after an act of vehicular theft, Grand Theft Auto games can live or die based on their driving mechanics and the way vehicles interact with the environment. Now, Grand Theft Auto 4 car physics are notoriously divisive, with vehicles feeling more like weighty sailing vessels as they tear across the streets. At times, mid-range racing cars genuinely felt like trying to direct a cannonball down a track. And I absolutely love that about GTA 4.

Everything about GTA 4 is underpinned by a heavy and meticulously designed physics engine. As such, cars all feel different from one another, and it takes a decent chunk of time before you feel confident enough to take your foot off the brakes and try out riskier evasive maneuvers. This is precisely how driving should feel, especially when sitting behind the wheel of a rusting sedan while being pursued by the cops.

By comparison, GTA 5’s driving is light, floaty, and more akin to an arcade racer than a driving simulator. This, of course, appeals to more players, and perhaps suits the GTA Online side of things much better than how the driving translated to online races in GTA 4.

Personally, I want the driving in GTA 6 to harken back to GTA 4’s approach. This is a game I’ll probably be playing for years to come, and I’d like to work a bit before I’ve mastered the art of street racing and vehicular getaways.

There have been massive advancements in controller haptics since the launch of GTA 4 and GTA 5 as well. Adding a proper weighty physics system to vehicles opens up a whole world of possibilities where adaptive triggers are concerned. I’m hoping that Rockstar looks to GTA 4 when dialing in how different vehicles handle. I’d love it if driving a truck felt completely distinct from driving a high-end sports car, and I believe that the answer lies somewhere in GTA 4’s unique car control code.

This must be the place

Niko stands on a dock looking into the trunk of a red and white car

(Image credit: Rockstar)

GTA 4 leaned so completely into a sense of place and atmosphere, to the point where you could show me a screenshot of any curb, any random park bench in the game, and I’d immediately recognize it as GTA 4. It pulled heavily from 70s cinema, adding a sepia-toned smothering of fog and haze to Liberty City. Every frame of GTA 4 looks like a film poster, evoking The French Connection, Midnight Cowboy, and 1970s Scorsese. It’s a bold and striking choice, one that makes GTA 4 stand out from other games in the series.

GTA 5 is practically gleaming when placed next to its moodier older brother, going all in on sun-soaked California streets and perfect botox-ridden bodies. Differences in setting aside, GTA 5 and GTA 4 have clear differences in how they value the places the stories take place in. In GTA 4, Liberty City is inescapably prevalent, whether you’re cruising around grimy underpasses or walking through overcast parks.

With GTA 6 going back to Vice City, I’m not suggesting Rockstar sticks a sepia filter on it, nor do I think its streets should be defined by heavy fog and oppressive smog. What I would like to see is a real sense of place, more of a commitment to GTA 6’s setting than we saw with GTA 5. I must have racked up hundreds of hours in Los Santos over the years since GTA 5 launched, but very little of the city’s character and atmosphere has ever stuck with me. GTA 5 is completely unique in this regard, and I think it’s easily the worst 3D Grand Theft Auto game in terms of having a memorable and distinctive setting.

GTA 6 will offer up a modern take on Vice City, so it’s not quite as simple as drenching everything in neon and 80s aesthetics. Instead, I’d like GTA 6 to lean in on the swamplands, the grimy spaces between shuttered strip malls, and above all else, I’d like it all to feel completely in and of its own in terms of art direction. Finger marks on sunglasses, condensation on beer bottles, and realistic recreations of the way puddles reflect light simply don’t interest me, not as much as a proper vibe and atmosphere of a city that’s as much of a main character as the two protagonists.

The Power of Love

Jason and Lucia lie in bed, as sunlight comes in through the window. Stylized in classic GTA cartoon style

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Lucia and Jason will serve as GTA 6’s dual protagonists, and having them be a couple is already a step in the right direction when compared to the three relatively mismatched protagonists of GTA 5. Franklin, Michael, and Trevor were characters brought together by a life of crime, and there being three main characters diluted the narrative heft at times. I never really got the impression that the men cared for one another at all, more that they were thieves forced together. Ultimately, there’s no honor among thieves, and GTA 5’s overarching narrative failed to deliver the emotional highs of GTA 4.

GTA 4’s Niko Bellic is more considered and complex, bolstered by a much darker and more grounded story. He’s the only protagonist, sure, but his relationships felt tighter as a result. His loyalty to his cousin and his surprisingly solid moral compass have really stood the test of time. Lucia and Jason are lovers, and I think there’s much greater potential for some actual character depth from the jump than with Franklin, Michael, and Trevor.

We’ll have to wait and see how these two protagonists interact, how switching between them works, and where they both lie at the end of the story. Rockstar will need to evoke the grimy drama of GTA 4 to keep me interested, especially when plotting out the dynamics between the protagonists and those closest to them.

Of course, we’ve yet to see much of Grand Theft Auto 6, despite years of teasers and trailers. It’s entirely possible that GTA 6 will take a completely different direction from its predecessors. It might serve up the most detailed and lived-in world we’ve ever seen in gaming, and its cars might forge a new path in how physics and handling are simulated.

Rockstar, as always, is an enigma, and it rarely does precisely what we all expect. Still, I’m hoping that the finished product has some of the weight, the dirge, and the smog of GTA 4. I’d take that over the glamour and ‘realism’ of GTA 5 any day.

Right, I’m off to listen to Tom Petty’s Love Is a Long Road for the hundredth time in 2026 already.

]]> <![CDATA[ Log into GTA Online this week for free gifts as the Christmas update rolls on ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/log-into-gta-online-this-week-for-free-gifts-as-the-christmas-update-rolls-on hGb3m3tvbjcyd7fcbtp8WJ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:21:37 +0000 false false false
  • Rockstar has detailed the latest Holiday update for GTA Online
  • Players can log in every day to receive free gifts
  • Snow returns later this week, and seasonal modes like Yeti Hunt

Rockstar Games has announced a Holiday update for GTA Online, adding in mansion decorations, snowy weaponry, and a return of modes like Yeti Hunt. These additions will roll out throughout the week, though there are daily login bonuses already live.

In a recent blog post, Rockstar detailed the new Progen Luiva Supercar, which can now be purchased from Legendary Motorsport, or the new Luxury Autos window display. Elsewhere, players who completed all three new listings missions before December 7 get a GTA$2,000,000 discount on all Prix Luxury Real estate properties.

GTA+ members get an additional GTA$1,000,000 off any mansion property through January 7. Play GTA Online anytime from December 23 through January 7 to receive free holiday goodies, including new gifts like the Season’s Greetings Sweater and New Year Fireworks Bodysuit, as well as returning faves like the Snowball Launcher, Candy Cane, Firework Launcher with 20 Rockets, and refills of Snacks, Armor and Ammo.

Snow is set to arrive later this week, though the specific date hasn't been shared. Once it's here, you can track down snowmen to earn a new outfit. Finally, Yeti Hunt and Snowball Fight modes are live, and the return of The Gooch — the series' parody of The Grinch, obviously.

]]> <![CDATA[ ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week, from more GTA 6 rumors to Netflix buying Warner Bros. Discovery ]]> https://www.techradar.com/tech/icymi-the-7-biggest-tech-stories-of-the-week-from-more-gta-6-rumors-to-netflix-buying-warner-bros-discovery AMyVjE6kz8K83S9HYLu4kR Sat, 06 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000 Sat, 06 Dec 2025 11:11:51 +0000 false false false

Every seven days we put together an ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) round-up like this one, so you can cast an eye over the most important stories that happened in tech land since this time last week – and once again, it's been another busy week of news and reviews.

We've got everything from GTA 6 leaks to a mammoth deal that sees Netflix picking up Warner Bros. Discovery for a huge sum of money – with a 360-degree drone review, the launch of Spotify Wrapped 2025, and more stories also included along the way.

Our advice would be to get settled and get ready to digest this rundown of tech news tales, shaping the industry and almost every part of our lives. No doubt there will be more stories to come over the next seven days as well – we'll see you again this time next week.

7. Another GTA 6 leak got us excited and impatient

Lucia Caminos

GTA 6 is due next year (Image credit: Rockstar Games)

No other video game is as eagerly anticipated as GTA 6 right now. And while the launch of the game was recently delayed to November 2026, we do have a new leak to talk about: a leak that supposedly reveals some of the scenes that might feature in the upcoming title. This apparently comes from an animator who previously worked at Rockstar.

The scenes show Lucia, one of the main characters, jumping into the bed of a pickup truck, and an unidentified character picking up a bicycle from a rental station – perhaps hinting at a couple of the ways players will be able to get around in the game. They're interesting, but what we'd really like to see is another trailer please Rockstar, if you're reading...

6. The Commodore 64 returned to production after a 30-year break

Commodore 64 Ultimate

The Commodore 64 Ultimate edition (Image credit: Commodore)

How strong is your sense of computing nostalgia? The classic Commodore 64 is back in production for the first time in three decades, and while the system is incredibly dated compared to our modern day gadgets, there's something about it that makes it appealing – and it has been updated with some modern options, including Ethernet and HDMI.

You'll be able to play your old cartridges and disks on this new version, and in total there's support for more than 10,000 original games (and you get plenty bundled with the device itself). Preorders are open now, and the basic version of the new (but retro) system will set you back $299.99 (around £225 / AU$450) – you can find more details on the updated Commodore website.

5. We reviewed the world’s first 360 drone

Antigravity A1 in flight

The Antigravity A1 takes to the skies (Image credit: James Abbott)

Today's drones are capable of capturing some fantastic videos and photos – but what if you fitted a 360-degree camera to one? That's the idea behind the new Antigravity A1, the first model we've seen with a full 360-degree perspective on the world. We've been thoroughly testing the new drone, to see if it's as good as its premise might suggest.

In short: it's an appealing piece of kit for drone enthusiasts. Our review talks about "impressive innovation" and an "immersive flying experience", offering "many creative possibilities" – although it's going to cost you a significant amount of money. Click through for our full review and all the details on everything from camera quality to battery life.

4. The yearly recaps landed – including Spotify Wrapped 2025

Two phones on a green and blue background showing Spotify Wrapped 2025

Spotify Wrapped 2025 is here (Image credit: Spotify)

We've been hit by a barrage of yearly recaps this week – led by Spotify Wrapped 2025, but also including the Apple Music Replay 2025, and the YouTube Recap 2025, which is the first we've seen from the video-sharing platform. If you were wondering where all your screen time went over the last 12 months, then these various round-ups will fill you in.

When it comes to Spotify Wrapped 2025, there's more data included than ever before, including a list of your top albums and a fan leaderboard that compares you to other listeners. There's an interactive game you can play to compare your listening habits against those of your friends, and an AI-powered deep dive into specific days as well.

3. Sony launched its best camera ever – and we reviewed it

The Sony Alpha 7 V camera

The Sony Alpha 7 V (Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)

Also on the review bench at TechRadar this week: the Sony A7 V. As the attached five-star rating will tell you, the successor to the popular Sony A7 IV is a fantastic digital camera, and is sure to appeal to a broad range of photographers who are prepared to pay to get the best hardware in the business (although it's probably a bit much for complete beginners).

With phrases like "another huge step forward" and "exceptional image quality", our detailed Sony A7 V review tells you everything you need to know about this camera – including how it compares to other top models in terms of design, price, and performance. If you're looking for a serious upgrade for your photo kit, you might just have found it.

2. Samsung finally revealed its Galaxy TriFold

Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold

The new Galaxy Z TriFold (Image credit: Samsung)

It's been a long wait for the tri-fold phone from Samsung – remember the device was first teased all the way back in January – but it's now official, and it's called the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold. It's available in South Korea now, and it's coming to the US at the start of next year (though we're still not sure what it's going to cost in international markets).

It's your standard foldable, with another hinge and screen section attached – so you really are carrying a tablet around in your pocket. It looks as though Samsung has tried to make the device as thin and lightweight as possible, and the specs that have been revealed are very much flagship level. In fact, it sounds like something of an engineering marvel.

1. Netflix drew gasps with its Warner Bros. Discovery deal

Netflix

Netflix just spent a lot of money (Image credit: Shutterstock)

There's no doubt about the biggest news of the week: Netflix has agreed a deal to pick up Warner Bros. Discovery for a cool $82.7 billion, which will give it access to its very own movie studio, as well as everything produced by HBO and HBO Max. There's a lot of content and intellectual property included here, and we're still taking it all in.

While Netflix is promising lots of benefits for consumers, we can't help but worry about higher prices for streaming services and shorter theatrical runs for movies in actual physical theaters. There are a lot of unanswered questions about what happens next, but we've covered everything about the blockbuster deal that's been announced so far.

]]> <![CDATA[ Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser says Red Dead Redemption 3 'will probably happen' but would be sad not to be part of it ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/rockstar-co-founder-dan-houser-says-red-dead-redemption-3-will-probably-happen-but-would-be-sad-not-to-be-part-of-it CxTnBL4SVksJYkT2z6Kb8Q Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:04:47 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:07:00 +0000 false false false
  • Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser thinks the studio will make Red Dead Redemption 3
  • The Red Dead Redemption 2 writer says since his work on the first two titles was a "cohesive two-story arc", he would be sad not to be involved
  • He says, "That might be more sad to hear someone working on that. But again, that will probably happen too"

Rockstar co-founder and Red Dead Redemption 2 writer Dan Houser believes a third game will eventually be made, but has admitted he would be sad not being involved in its development.

Speaking in a recent interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, Houser, who also has writing credits on almost every Grand Theft Auto game, shared his thoughts on not being a part of the highly anticipated GTA 6 and any potential Red Dead Redemption sequel having left the company.

The developer agreed that it would be bittersweet, but he's also pleased with doing other stuff at his own studio, Absurd Ventures.

"Of course, letting go of something I worked on in one way or another for like 20 odd years, and wrote on them for the last 10 or 11 that came out, wrote all of them, or you know, lead writer on all of them, whatever it was… letting go of that is a big change. And sad in a way," Houser said.

Speaking more on Red Dead Redemption, Houser explained that since his work on the first two titles was a "cohesive two-story arc", he would be sad not being involved with the continuation if a third game was in the works.

Either way, Houser believes Rockstar will make Red Dead Redemption 3 one day.

"Because each of the [Grand Theft Auto] games was a kind of standalone story, it’s not quite the same as I think probably it would be in some ways sadder if someone continued on Red Dead, because it was a cohesive two-game arc. That might be more sad to hear someone working on that. But again, that will probably happen too.

"I don’t own the IP. That was the sort of part of the deal. It’s a privilege to work on stuff, but you don’t necessarily own it."

Rockstar hasn't shared any plans for a third Red Dead game, but we know it's currently focused on Grand Theft Auto 6, which launches on May 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

In the same interview, Houser explained why there is so much hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6, arguing that it's due to how Rockstar has handled the evolution of the IP.

]]> <![CDATA[ Analysts suggest a $70 Grand Theft Auto 6 price would generate more money for Rockstar, because fans wouldn't shell out $100 ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/analysts-suggest-a-usd70-grand-theft-auto-6-price-would-generate-more-money-for-rockstar-because-fans-wouldnt-shell-out-usd100 ZHbb52omKVUntGFtpAwUNA Thu, 09 Oct 2025 15:40:10 +0000 false false false
  • A new study suggests GTA 6 will generate more money with a $70 price tag than a $100 one
  • Analysts say: "A $100 price point would actually leave money on the table"
  • A price tag above $70 "would result in less revenue than the lost revenue from those who don't purchase GTA 6"

Analysts have rejected the notion of Grand Theft Auto 6 being priced at $100, suggesting that the game would generate more money with a $70 price tag.

That's according to a new study from MIDiA Research (via IGN), which suggests that increasing the price of the highly anticipated game to $100 would deter people from buying it and "leave money on the table" for Rockstar.

"Our research suggests that GTA 6 will generate more revenue at a standard $69.99 price point than the much discussed $100," said Perry Gresham, co-author of the report and Head of Data at MIDiA Research. "A $100 price point would actually leave money on the table."

The study also suggests that increasing the game above $70, which would be an "optimum" price, would result in less revenue than the lost revenue from those who don't purchase GTA 6.

"Our research shows that 59% of consumers have some interest in purchasing GTA 6, highlighting the immense appeal and commercial potential of the game," said co-author and Games Analyst at MIDiA, Brandon Sutton.

"This notoriety also makes GTA 6 the perfect test case to understand consumer expectations around video games pricing. Our findings should serve as a caution to game developers looking to raise game prices in the future."

In the study's key findings that recorded survey results from over 2,000 US consumers, it was reported that 60% of people who expressed interest in GTA 6 said they would 'definitely' or 'probably' buy the game at $69.99, while 35% of consumers who expressed interest in GTA 6 would 'definitely' or ‘probably’ buy the game at $99.99.

It was also determined that just 16% of consumers would purchase the game at $149.99, compared to 79% who expressed interest in GTA 6, who said they would 'definitely' or 'probably' buy the game at $49.99.

Rockstar will likely reveal the game's price tag the closer we get to launch, which is scheduled for May 26, 2026. GTA 6 is confirmed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, but the game won't be coming to PC at launch.

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]]> <![CDATA[ Rockstar and Nvidia aren't done with GTA 5 just yet, and I'm not either – now it's getting DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation support ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/pc-gaming/rockstar-and-nvidia-arent-done-with-gta-5-just-yet-and-im-not-either-now-its-getting-dlss-4-multi-frame-generation-support XRWaDiZX82rJXUpnEA5u89 Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:41:17 +0000 Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:52:56 +0000 false false false
  • Rockstar's GTA 5 has received another big update, a decade after its PC launch
  • Nvidia has implemented Multi Frame Generation support for multiple games, including GTA 5, in a new driver
  • It's the ideal time for updates before GTA 6's launch on May 26, 2026

It's almost time for Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) to take the spotlight for gamers when it launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on May 26, 2026. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated title won't be coming to PC day one; however, Nvidia and Rockstar aren't done with the current long-running Grand Theft Auto entry.

Nvidia is adding DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation support to GTA 5 Enhanced, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced, Titan Quest 2, and Supraworld, which is available now thanks to the new GeForce Game Ready Driver 580.97. With Multi Frame Generation, GTA 5 Enhanced's frame rates and smoothness will improve significantly with additional frames, best suited when using ray tracing for better lighting in-game.

Multi Frame Generation is only available to GeForce RTX 5000 series GPU users, and is ideal when base frame rates in-game are running at a high standard: at least 40fps, with a sweet spot at 60fps. Essentially, the higher your base frame rate, the better Multi Frame Generation will be, as you'll avoid choppy gameplay that would stem from increased input lag.

Fortunately, GTA 5 isn't a graphically demanding game for most gaming PC setups, and while the Enhanced version does contain ray tracing graphics and better visual quality, it's nothing an RTX 5000 series GPU can't handle. The addition of Multi Frame Generation should be viewed as the icing on the cake.

It's quite surprising to see the level of support Rockstar and Nvidia are providing for GTA 5 PC players, but I'm sure console players are awaiting the same treatment for Red Dead Redemption 2. Perhaps this is a sign of good things to come in preparation for GTA 6.

GeForce Game Ready Driver poster

(Image credit: Nvidia)

Analysis: I think it might be time for a GTA 5 replay

It's been a long time coming for me to revisit GTA 5, and Nvidia's upgrade has given me the green light to do so. I don't have an RTX 5000 series GPU, but I've not had a chance to check out the GTA 5 Enhanced version, so now I will.

This may be one of the last opportunities to revisit the 2013 title before GTA 6, assuming the new title doesn't get delayed. According to Take Two Interactive's CEO Strauss Zelnick, GTA 6 is still on track for its May 26, 2026 launch – at least for those who play games on PC only.

It's safe to say that GTA 5 has reached its ceiling for how far Rockstar Games could push the visual fidelity; there's plenty of mods available thanks to the community, and modifications will soon be at their end as I'm certain PC players like me will be shifting to consoles once GTA 6 arrives.

It's also great to know that Nvidia's recent Game Ready Drivers have been safe to install, after I avoided updates for months due to consistent black screen issues and bugs. Let's just hope that the release of stable drivers continues.

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]]> <![CDATA[ GTA Online publisher Take-Two is gunning for a black market that’s basically heaven for cheaters ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gta-online-publisher-take-two-is-gunning-for-a-black-market-thats-basically-heaven-for-cheaters LzLT9HnkhcDZghPFt9PxwY Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:41:38 +0000 Wed, 12 Mar 2025 19:10:26 +0000 false false false
  • GAT Online publisher Take-Two is suing Paiao Network Technology, the owner of online marketplace PlayerAuctions
  • The lawsuit claims PlayerAuctions makes millions from facilitating the sale of illegitimate content and hacked accounts
  • Such sales can give new players massive advantages in GTA Online, basically enabling a form of cheating

As GTA V is one of the biggest games in the world, it’s no wonder developer Rockstar and publisher Take-Two Interactive take it very seriously, so much so that the latter is suing online marketplace PlayerAuctions for allegedly selling unauthorized content that infringes GTA V’s copyright.

Spotted by Polygon, the lawsuit is directed at Chinese company Paiao Network Technology, which owns the PlayerAuctions platform, and alleges that the marketplace sells "thousands of listings for unauthorized, infringing GTA Online content – including heavily modified player accounts, in-game assets, and virtual currency – all gained by using hacking software, cheats, and technical exploits."

The filing accuses PlayerActions of doing this with the full knowledge that sellers on the website were “engaged in rampant infringement and other unauthorized conduct” and that it makes millions in reverence by taking a cut in these illicit transactions.

While it’s not illegal to sell your GTA Online account, it does infringe the terms of service for GTA Online, which is one of the issues Take-Two has with PlayerAuctions. But the big issue is that third-party sellers are selling illegitimate items that have been gained by hacking accounts or using exploits to sell high-ranked game accounts or masses of game currency, as well as unlock content that would usually require an investment in gaming time or legitimate purchase via GTA Online’s virtual currency.

On top of all of this, selling such accounts gives players a massive advantage in GTA Online that’s tantamount to cheating, meaning online marketplaces like PlayerAuctions could be seen as nirvana for people who want to get ahead in a game without putting in the gaming grind.

While in-game purchases are absolutely part of GTA Online, they tend to be balanced in a way that doesn't give players an overwhelming advantage, and people who don’t want to spend real money for in-game currency can still earn virtual money by playing the game and completing heists.

“Through these offerings, PlayerAuctions markets to Take-Two’s customers an otherwise impossible experience: new players can begin GTA V with billions in VC and with a massive arsenal of in-game content — such as vehicles, clothing, and weapons — configurations only possible by hacking and modifying the GTA V game in breach of the Rockstar TOS. In some cases, these listings advertise ‘unlock all’ accounts preloaded with maxed-out character levels and virtually all in-game assets available to acquire in GTA Online,” Take-Two’s lawsuit explained.

GTA V is arguably one of the largest games in history, with the online element making billions of dollars for Rockstar and Take-Two. As such, both companies are bound to take action on anything that could mess with their money-making machine.

While it’s hard to feel a great deal of sympathy for Take-Two, especially as GTA can make hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue per quarter, having masses of cash hopefully means Rockstar has the resources and funds to make GTA 6 one of the best entries in the series, if not one of the best games ever. Rockstar’s last major game was Red Dead Redemption 2, arguably a masterpiece in open-world design and cinematic storytelling – it’s one of my favorite games – which I’m sure benefitted from the wild success of GTA V and its online element.

We’ll have to see how this lawsuit plays out, but by the looks of it Take-Two has a strong claim; I for one wouldn't like to be in the shoes of Paiao Network Technology’s legal team.

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]]> <![CDATA[ Rockstar acquires studio behind Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition upgrades and L.A. Noire re-releases ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gaming-industry/rockstar-acquires-studio-behind-grand-theft-auto-the-trilogy-the-definitive-edition-upgrades-and-l-a-noire-re-releases M97JCtiesM2kfkbHbrWyiV Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:57:35 +0000 false false false
  • Rockstar has bought Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition studio Video Games Deluxe
  • The developer has now been renamed Rockstar Australia
  • Video Games Deluxe previously worked on the re-releases of L.A. Noire, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and upgrades for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy The Definitive Edition

Rockstar Games has acquired Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition developer Video Games Deluxe.

The news comes from a recent press release where it was announced that Rockstar had officially purchased the Sydney-based studio and has now renamed it Rockstar Australia.

The developer has worked with Rockstar on several titles in the past, including the 2017 re-releases of L.A. Noire and L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, as well as the 2021 iOS, Android, Netflix, and console upgrades for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy -The Definitive Edition.

"After working together closely over many years, we are excited to have Video Games Deluxe join the team as Rockstar Australia," said Rockstar Games head of publishing, Jennifer Kolbe.

Video Games Deluxe was founded in 2013 by Brendan McNamara, but Rockstar's relationship originally began with McNamara's former studio Team Bondi and the development of L.A. Noire, which first launched in 2011.

"It’s been an honor to work closely with Rockstar Games this past decade," said McNamara. "We are thrilled to be a part of Rockstar Games and to continue our efforts to make the best games possible."

This acquisition comes ahead of the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is scheduled to be released in Fall 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. We don't have a specific launch date just yet, but Take-Two has reaffirmed the game won't be delayed and will arrive this year.

In the meantime, Rockstar has announced a free PC upgrade for Grand Theft Auto 5, which is set to arrive today and includes upgrades previously only available on console.

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]]> <![CDATA[ In the lead-up to GTA 6 releasing later this year, Rockstar announces a new GTA 5 update for PC players that includes PS5 and Xbox Series X features ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/in-the-lead-up-to-gta-6-releasing-later-this-year-rockstar-announces-a-new-gta-5-update-for-pc-players-that-includes-ps5-and-xbox-series-x-features qM9SvnjMriKVorpTSYDVwj Thu, 20 Feb 2025 17:21:25 +0000 false false false
  • GTA 5 is getting a free PC upgrade in March that adds previously released PS5 and Xbox Series X features
  • The update will add GTA Online features, improved graphics, ray-tracing features, and more
  • New minimum and recommended specifications have been shared ahead of its release

Rockstar Games has announced that a free PC upgrade for Grand Theft Auto 5 will be released next month that will add PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S features.

The studio shared the details in a new blog post confirming that the update will be available on March 4 and have features previously only available in the console versions of GTA Online.

These include the latest vehicles and performance upgrades at Hao's Special Works, animal encounters, GTA+ Membership access, as well as improved graphics, ray-tracing features, faster loading times, DualSense Wireless Controller support, and more.

The upgraded version of the game will also feature the most recent player improvements for GTA Online, which include kernel-based anti-cheat protection and proactive voice chat moderation.

Players who download the free upgrade will also be given the ability to migrate their Story Mode and Online progress.

With the addition of features like ambient occlusion, global illumination, ray-traced shadows and reflections, as well as Nvidia DLSS 3, AMD FSR1, and FSR3 support, the new and improved version of GTA 5 also means PC specifications are changing.

You can take a look at the minimum and recommended specs below to make sure your PC can handle the new upgrade.

GTA 5 - PC Specifications:

Minimum

Recommended

Operating system

Windows 10 (latest service pack)

Windows 11

Processor

Intel Core i7-4770, AMD FX-9590

Intel Core i5-9600K, AMD Ryzen 5 3600

Memory

8GB RAM

16GB Dual-Channel Configuration RAM

Graphics

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 (4GB VRAM), AMD Radeon RX 6400 (4GB VRAM)

NVIDIA GeForce RTC 3060 (8GB VRAM), AMD Radeon RX 6600XT (8GB VRAM)

Storage

105GB, SSD required

105GB, DirectStorage-compatible drive

Sound card & audio

100% DirectX 10 compatible

Windows Spatial Sound-compatible audio system; solution containing Dolby Atmos support required for a Dolby Atmos experience

Rockstar confirmed that support for the previous version of GTA 5 will continue for players whose hardware doesn't fulfill the minimum requirements.

However, for the original version of GTA Online, players who remain on that previous version will not be able to play in online sessions with those with the upgraded patch.

"PC Players who want to play with each other will need to ensure they’re playing the same version of the game," Rockstar said. "Both versions will be available to everyone who upgrades - and first-time purchasers will get access to both versions as well."

The upcoming patch comes as we eagerly await the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is scheduled to be released in Fall 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. Unfortunately, much like the GTA 5, a PC version will arrive later; reportedly in early 2026.

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]]> <![CDATA[ Elden Ring, Red Dead Redemption 2, and more see big price cuts in PlayStation Store's Summer Sale ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/elden-ring-red-dead-redemption-2-and-more-see-big-price-cuts-in-playstation-stores-summer-sale KsFUztJt6TKHFzT2vMyWz4 Thu, 18 Jul 2024 11:38:37 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:06:00 +0000 false false false

PlayStation Store's Summer Sale is officially here, offering big discounts on some of the best games.

The annual Summer Sale is back this month with hundreds of titles now on offer for users across PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Running until August 14, this year's promotion includes discounts on a total of 4,770 items on the US PlayStation store and 4,520 items on the UK PlayStation Store, although some offers will be removed prior to the sale's end date.

Some of the best discounts also apply to some of our favorite games available on PlayStation, including the critically acclaimed role-playing game from FromSoftware, Elden Ring which is now priced at $41.99 / £34.99. 

This offer only applies to the base game, however, so you'll need to pay full price for the recently released Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

Other games on offer also include 2023's best horror games, Resident Evil 4 and Alan Wake 2, and fantastic Soulslike Lies of P. There are also featured titles that have been released this year, such as one of the best fighting games you can play right now, Tekken 8, and even Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

You can take a look at some of our recommended discounts below:

  • Elden Ring - $41.99 / £34.99 (-30%)
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 - $19.79 / £18.14 (-67%)
  • Grand Theft Auto 5: Premium Edition - $14.99 / £14.99 (-50%)
  • Grand Theft Auto 5 (PS5) - $19.99 / £17.49 (-50%)
  • Tekken 8 - $39.99 / £39.89 (-43%)
  • Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth Twin Pack - $74.99 / £71.24 (-25%)
  • Resident Evil 4 - $29.99 / £26.24 (-25%)
  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - $31.49 / £31.49 (-55%)
  • Alan Wake 2 - $38.99 / £32.49 (-35%)
  • Lies of P - $35.99 / £29.99 (-40%)
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - $38.49 / £38.49 (-45%)

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]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 6 needs to drop Rockstar’s default control scheme ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gta-6-needs-to-drop-rockstars-default-control-scheme SPJnd5PN6ga8L4fBFHnNA7 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:07:02 +0000 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:07:06 +0000 false false false

Having begun my full first playthrough of Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) on PlayStation 5 recently, I’ve been having a great time with the story and characters - particularly the world of Los Santos - but I am having a rough time navigating it. In the most literal sense, GTA 5’s default control scheme sucks and Rockstar needs to abandon it for GTA 6.

Revisiting GTA in 2024 does really feel strange control-wise, particularly when it comes to the matchups between buttons and actions. This is bad from a more modern point of view, but also from an accessibility perspective, given that you can often need spider-like hands to use all the necessary controls.

As a result, Rockstar needs to rethink its default control scheme to drag it in line with largely accepted norms and also to ensure more folks can enjoy its next blockbuster adventure. 

A bit of a reach

GTA 5

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Heading it right off at the top: I know that such complaints can usually be offset by games offering alternative control schemes. And, of course, many modern games will let you remap every button individually to your own preferences, which is awesome. However, a default control scheme heavily implies that it's a developer-approved and recommended layout - and one that many players will stick with and learn how to use.

Starting more generally: who is advocating for tapping X (or A on Xbox controllers) repeatedly to have your character run? It’s not even a hold, or toggle - it’s an active control to keep engaging with, thus permanently tying up one digit. In the face of a simple push-down on the left thumbstick, I can’t believe that Rockstar has stuck by this method. In the same way, how was putting ‘change camera and perspective’ on the touchpad signed off on PS4 and PS5? Everyone knows the touchpad is for maps - GTA 5’s is buried in the options button.

Elsewhere, and from a slightly more accessibility-focused point of view, it gets really messy when it comes to driving and shooting. Having to accelerate with R2, cover the brakes on L2, while also trying to press L1 to aim and use R1 to shoot the gun, and manipulate both sticks to steer the car and move the camera felt incredibly unwieldy and busy. On the rare occasion where the inputs did go well (by accident), I felt like I was playing a Rachmaninoff piano concerto, with all the stress and complexity you might expect. In short, I simply couldn’t interact with all the necessary controls, so I ditched the shooting and just rammed the car I was chasing. After this, I had to change the control layout to a different non-GTA style, so to speak, to better enjoy the game.

I have talked about my own personal accessibility needs before, such as in my PlayStation Access controller review. It's button functions and layouts like this that are some of the most troublesome for folks like me. Reaching around the back of the controller is often the most tricky part of playing games, so demanding that all four rear buttons be used simultaneously is incredibly tough for those with deficiencies or even just smaller hands. 

Not just a relic from the past

GTA 5

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

This deployment of multiple shoulder buttons all at once just about gets a pass in Red Dead Redemption 2 as it was used only for navigating menus, which I could just about manage. But for something as active as car chases and shooting simultaneously, it really is a horrible configuration.

Looking at Red Dead Redemption 2 does reveal more about Rockstar’s attachment to the control scheme - there’s some evolution of the layout by the time of Arthur Morgan’s Western adventure released in 2018, but a bunch of the same actions remain. This proves that GTA 5’s is not a relic of the past or because of any limitations of the PS3/Xbox 360 generation - it’s clearly something Rockstar sees value in and at least wanted to stick with over the past decade.

However, you can see that Rockstar didn’t necessarily agree that such controls were outdated, as Red Dead Redemption 2 featured some similarities: tapping X to sprint was still a thing as was clicking L3 to go into stealth/crouched mode, and so on.

To go against the grain again when GTA 6 comes out in 2025 would be to fly in the face of what the vast majority of players are now used to

Odd or irregular controls are not something exclusive to Rockstar. In one of my favorite series, The Last of Us, you have to hold L1 to sprint - far away from what many would consider default or natural (it’s L3 to sprint, by modern standards). We make exceptions such as this of course, but I’d wager a majority of folks will instinctively try L3 to sprint or X to jump whenever they start games.

While some ground needs to be ceded based on the demands of the game, surely there’s a means for Rockstar to make a new control scheme that's both more in line with modern arrangements and more accessible as a result. To go against the grain again when GTA 6 comes out in 2025 would be to fly in the face of what the vast majority of players are now used to and naturally gravitate toward. It'll force people to play a certain way, and there’s no need for such gatekeeping in the 2020s.

I’m aware that any control scheme Rockstar decides to implement for GTA 6 probably won’t matter much to most players, and it’ll largely be adopted with no questions asked. However, I do hope the developer is at least considering a more modernized default control scheme. This would be a huge win on the accessibility front while also taking many of the frustrations out of controlling a Rockstar protagonist.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is going to be one of the most anticipated PS5 games and Xbox Series X games of 2025, so ensure you have one of the best PS5 controllers or the best Xbox controllers to play it with. 

]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 6 is yet another chance for me to relive the horror of multiplayer heists ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/gta-6-is-yet-another-chance-for-me-to-relive-the-horror-of-multiplayer-heists Ak3riddzdMcRAFYmcGtPhd Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:29:08 +0000 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:29:20 +0000 false false false

Many fans’ excitement and anticipation were piqued by the recent Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) trailer, and while watching has made me pumped for 2025, it also unfurled one painful memory.

Back in 2016, three friends and I decided to take on one of GTA Online’s multiplayer heist missions, The Pacific Standard Job. With the aim of setting up and finally executing a high-stakes bank heist, there was $1,250,000 on the line, and we had all night to complete it. ‘What could go wrong?’ you ask. Well, it turns out that with my group of friends at the wheel, everything.

Fast forward four hours into the heist, and we still haven’t managed to pull off the job. Heists should normally take around 30 minutes plus a little extra time for the setup. However, we were foolishly hell-bent on getting out with at least $1 million, a task that shouldn’t have been that hard - but was for us and our bad habits. Unfortunately, the more damage you take, the more money you lose, and thanks to a loose cannon on the team and some dwindling patience elsewhere in the crew, we found ourselves tired, angry, and still trying to finish the heist. 

Eventually, we all decided that the goal didn’t matter anymore; we’d be happy with whatever cash we could scrape together and just wanted it finished. Famous last words. With almost all our money gone, one of my friends drives off on a stolen motorbike only to speed straight through a T-junction and end up in a ball of fire, taking the rest of our money with him. At this point, all we could do was look on in disbelief with our heads in our hands. When asked how he ended up burnt to a crisp, his only response was, “I closed my eyes because I thought I was going to crash.” Needless to say, we finished the night quickly after this and took home the minimum payout. 

Best enjoyed with friends 

Character riding a motorbike

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

For such reasons, my favorite part about GTA 5 and GTA Online was always the group heists. While my gang may not have had the best track record completing them, it always provided some guaranteed fun. Apart from the Pacific Standard Job, heists like Cayo Perico and Diamond Casino were always a thrill ride with realistic and straightforward prep missions.  

I can't wait to see what all the Vice City-buzz is about for myself

While you could argue all day about which heist comes out on top (it’s Cayo Perico), I always just enjoyed trying to complete the missions with my friends, as that was challenging enough. It’s this kind of team effort - or trouble - that I can’t wait to experience again in GTA 6.

GTA 6 will also be the first time that I have experienced the iconic Vice City; I was only two years old when the fourth GTA was released. As GTA: Vice City is known for having arguably one of the best heists in the franchise, The Malibu Club, mostly thanks to its upbeat and entertaining participants, there’s already a tantalizing precedent set by the location itself.

With a lot to live up to, I can't wait to see what all the Vice City-buzz is about for myself, with all my mates by my side messing up heists and crashing motorbikes, just like in the old days.

If you’re still wrestling with GTA 5 and GTA Online’s heists, then be sure to check out GTA 5 characters: a breakdown of who’s who and GTA 5 money: how to make cash.

]]> <![CDATA[ The 'Florida Joker' from the GTA 6 trailer now wants millions from Rockstar after claiming 'Y'all took my likeness' ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/pc-gaming/the-florida-joker-from-the-gta-6-trailer-now-wants-millions-from-rockstar-after-claiming-yall-took-my-likeness drXZBoDRrsRprUBm82BjvH Mon, 11 Dec 2023 13:15:52 +0000 Mon, 11 Dec 2023 13:16:03 +0000 false false false

Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) finally got its first trailer earlier this month (December 4), and while it arrived to much applause, there was at least one person who didn't look upon it so favorably. 

One said person is someone who is known as the 'Florida Joker,' Lawrence Sullivan. Recently, he took to Twitter to complain that Rockstar had stolen his likeness: “Y’all took my likeness, y’all took my life.” Sullivan is currently demanding $2 million from the publisher Rockstar; however, he hasn't taken legal action yet. 

Sullivan refers to the short appearance in the GTA 6 trailer of a pink-haired character who is seemingly sitting in a courtroom. While the image appeared for a very short time, it was among many other stills that have apparently been based on real videos and images taken in the state of Florida.

Regardless of whether this claim is substantiated or not, this isn't the first time that Rockstar has been put in the hot seat. When Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) was released, actor Lindsey Lohan attempted to sue the publisher, claiming her likeness was used in the form of a minor character in the open-world game (via BBC).  However, a New York court dismissed her claim, stating that the character was simply a "generic young woman."

While the outcome of Sullivan's claims has yet to be seen, Red Dead Redemption 2's Arthur Morgan voice actor has also come out to weigh in on the situation. Roger Clark posted a video on TikTok responding to Sullivan: "You don't need to talk to them. They're not going to talk to you." Clark said. "They've had people like you trying to sue them for decades. They are lawyered up, man. They know exactly what they can and cannot get away with."

For more excellent titles which you can play right now check out the best story games as well as the best single-player games.

]]> <![CDATA[ Red Dead Redemption 2 has convinced me to give GTA 6 a try ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/red-dead-redemption-2-has-convinced-me-to-give-gta-6-a-try Jwqfi47e4MfhwhM85M5EG9 Fri, 08 Dec 2023 12:30:37 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:07:29 +0000 false false false

Across my three playthroughs of Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar Games’ profound and soul-shattering Western has never failed to stir my heart and bring tears to my eyes. Its intimate, human storytelling and weighty, believable characters have stuck with me years after the fact; their trials and tribulations are forever etched into my memory.

This had an unexpected side effect. Previously, I’d slept on Grand Theft Auto (GTA). Sure it looked like a laugh, but as a lover of story-driven games, it never occurred to me to see the series in those terms. Friends would always tell me how, in the GTA games, you could “do anything” and “go anywhere.” To me, they were always sold as fun open-world power trips rather than anything more narratively substantial. 

Red Dead Redemption 2 showed me that I’d been wrong. After spending 70 hours with the game’s roster of sad cowboys, I came to realize that Rockstar was capable of a lot more than I’d given it credit for. So when the GTA 6 trailer finally arrived, rather than letting it pass me by, I watched the preview with no small amount of excitement.

On the surface, despite coming from the same developer, it may seem as though there’s little to connect GTA 6 and Red Dead Redemption 2. One is a modern-day crime game, while the other is, essentially, a period drama. However, my time with the Western showed me firsthand that Rockstar is not only capable of shaping a realistic game world but is also exceptionally skilled when it comes to filling that world with deep, relatable characters with rich lives.

Sure, the state of Leonida, the fictionalized version of Florida where GTA 6 is set, won’t have gallant rogue Arthur Morgan or self-righteous ideologue Dutch van der Linde, but it’ll almost certainly have comparable characters of its own.  

Time and place 

Arthur Morgan

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

What gives the cast of Red Dead Redemption 2 their zest is how effectively they slot into the winding political turmoil that engulfed the post-Civil War United States. Lenny Summers, who acts as something of a little brother figure to protagonist Arthur Morgan, is constantly forced to contend with the violent and tumultuous racial politics of the time. Dutch van der Linde’s own ideological quest to escape the long arm of the law is also rooted in a very real contemporary anxiety surrounding the expanding scope and powers of the Federal Government. 

Rockstar had huge scope to create a believable and politically loaded story.

1899, the year in which Red Dead Redemption 2 is set, places the game slap-bang in the middle of a period of rapid industrialization and centralization. As the Library of Congress puts it, “Americans who were born in the 1840s and 1850s would experience enormous changes in their lifetimes” thanks to a “technological revolution.” 

It’s no coincidence then that Rockstar had Dutch van der Linde born in 1855. His tendency to see civilization as a “mess” and his romanticized view of outlaw life is rooted in a response to the realities of the period. His deeply held ideological beliefs spill out across the main story, irrevocably changing the lives of everyone he comes into contact with. Red Dead Redemption 2 is as much about ideas as it is about six-shooters, and this gave Rockstar huge scope to create a believable and politically loaded story, grounding its characters in reality to make them all the more accessible and resonant. 

Here and now

Lucina in an orange shirt

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Modern-day Florida is no less tumultuous or fraught than the old West. Albeit for different reasons. Under right-wing populist governor Ron DeSantis, travel advisories have, according to CNN, begun to warn potential visitors that “the state is ‘openly hostile’ toward people of color, immigrants, women and LGBTQ+ community members.”

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that “cost of living concerns have become an issue” for Florida residents. “Rents are going sky-high. Property insurance, whether you live near the coast or not, is becoming less available and less affordable.”  

It’s in this context that the opening line of the GTA 6 trailer becomes all the more poignant. When asked “Do you know why you’re here?” our hero Lucia responds: “Bad luck, I guess.” For a woman of color in a fictionalized version of Florida, this bleak sentiment rings true in a powerful way. 

Rockstar has an opportunity to address issues of sexism and racism with an elevated level of intimacy and directness.

With political tensions and economic struggles rife across real-world Florida, this opening line gave me hope that GTA 6 wouldn’t shy away from the same sorts of delicate political topics that Rockstar approached in Red Dead Redemption 2. By framing GTA 6’s narrative from the perspective of a Floridian woman of color, Rockstar has an opportunity to address issues of sexism and racism with an elevated level of intimacy and directness. In practical terms, this means we may well be in for a truly gripping story that reflects the struggles and turmoil faced by marginalized people in the modern-day US.  

An ariel view of Vice City at night

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Political and social commentary is hardly new for the GTA series. Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser famously intended GTA 5 to showcase “the endpoint of the American dream.” However, as veteran gaming reporter Stephen Totilo put it in his review of the game back in 2013, GTA 5 takes place in a “parody version” of reality which is “there to entertain you.” It’s a form of biting satire, sure, but it’s a step removed from the more immediate drama of the likes of Red Dead.   

GTA 6 feels like it could take a step further, directly addressing the messy and complex power structures that make places like Florida unwelcoming for women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ folks. Whether or not the game manages this when it releases in 2025, I know that I’m deeply excited to see what Rockstar’s cooking up. Given the studio’s successful efforts to bring relatable human drama to the old West, there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s also capable of bringing the same nuanced storytelling to Leonida. 

Looking for more thought-provoking games? Our lists of the best story games and the best RPGs may be what you’re looking for. 

]]> <![CDATA[ I’m not missing out again - the GTA 6 trailer’s cultural ‘moment’ has made me commit to finally playing GTA 5 this Christmas ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/im-not-missing-out-again-the-gta-6-trailers-cultural-moment-has-made-me-commit-to-finally-playing-gta-5-this-christmas LG8UGALqeVWGYNaeHYmhLP Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:19:19 +0000 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:19:24 +0000 false false false

The Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) hype train is officially here; it arrived with a bang, with the first official trailer earlier this week. And it’s likely to be with us in perpetuity, building momentum as we gather pace toward that 2025 release window. 

The GTA 6 trailer has had such a massive impact, and the viewing numbers are just wild. I remember checking back a few times this week on the official Rockstar YouTube channel: 50 million views in just nine hours, around 80 million in 20 hours, 100 million in a day. It’s spectacular, and record-breaking stuff. That’s not even counting the views of the trailer that’s hosted on different channels or those with reactions and so on, either. For extra context, it’s got nearly 120 million now, at the time of writing, which is more than the Super Bowl had viewers.

As someone who missed out on GTA 5 for reasons (look, I was in a different career when it first came out, and even when I got into games media, it was just sort of there but had no pull on me), the trailer and the waves it and Rockstar have made with it have finally convinced me that my Christmas game this year just has to be GTA 5. Not in an ‘it might be a good one to play’ or ‘good idea’ to finally play it kind of way, but I absolutely must in order to make the most of and enjoy the cultural moment that we’re living in.

For context, I always try to have a Christmas game; a game almost put aside exclusively to play over the Holidays, be it something to really get my teeth into, something overdue, or even something seasonal. I’d already cycled through some choices, identifying several candidates from 2023 bangers I still needed to get back to, like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Dead Space remake, and Diablo 4, to others like a fresh, current-gen Witcher 3 replay, or even a new Skyrim playthrough on PlayStation 3.

Rockstar and a 90-second tease of GTA 6 have made my final decision for me, and have done so in a big, cultural one-two punch. 

Feeling the cultural waves

The first hit of that punch is, simply, the cultural impact of a new GTA game and even just a new trailer. The waves this has sent out have absolutely dominated the gaming industry already and prove that the next GTA is just flat-out bigger than the other biggest games in the world, like the annual Call of Duty or EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA). It transcends games; this will be bigger than anything that came before and filter into the wider entertainment and news worlds. Heck, even the BBC used a GTA 6 graphic this week when covering a football result.

It’s such a huge cultural moment that is like no other, and the impact of it already makes me want to get embroiled in it and soak up every bit.

GTA being a huge cultural element is not news in itself to most, of course, but witnessing the chat, vibes, and cultural atmosphere change and bubble up with the trailer is something quite special, proving that GTA 6 is likely going to be the biggest and most bombastic (and probably most lucrative) entertainment launch in history.

The momentum and atmosphere following the trailer swept me up and got me hook, line, and sinker. The significance of the cultural moment that the trailer and this week’s fallout have become - and that the game will clearly be itself - a very tangible phenomenon that’s seriously infectious, eye-opening, and just downright exciting. It’s such an incredible cultural moment that is like no other, and the impact of it already makes me want to get embroiled in it and soak up every bit.

GTA 5 was, of course, its own gaming landmark and cultural phenomenon, but even though I was aware of its long-running success in terms of player numbers, sales, and its online element, it was essentially a ten-year-long (so far) cultural moment that passed me by. But there’s no way I’m letting GTA 6 pass me by in a similar way, and the first thing I can do to ensure that is to knuckle down and immerse myself in GTA 5 with a full playthrough and adventure in Los Santos this Christmas.

Belated tangible fandom

A screenshot from the GTA 6 trailer.

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Secondly, such is the cultural explosion of even just the trailer I now actually feel like a fan already, and that’s why I now want, nay need, to commit to playing through GTA 5 this Christmas break. That’s a testament to the power of the game, series, Rockstar, and just a single trailer of not even two minutes.

To draw another connection with the above, like the cultural impact of GTA 5, I was aware of the fifth game and what it was from a ‘gamer’s’ perspective. But having never played it, there was nothing previously for me to be a fan of. I love open-world, action, and adventure games as much as the next person, sure, so it’s been a latent match made in heaven all along.

But now, I really do feel like a true fan who’s been playing GTA 5 for years and can’t wait to jump into GTA 6. I’m sure many previous GTA 5 players will be jumping back in now or in the run-up to the return to Vice City, but I feel fortunate enough to be doing so for the first time - and on the PlayStation 5 and all the enhancements that offers too.

As a bonus, by playing the fifth entry this Christmas, enough of a gap will be present before 2025 and GTA 6 that I will then genuinely be pining for more, itching to get back into some GTA action.

It might not be a festive Christmas game filled with snow or wintry feelings, and it certainly isn’t something I’m returning to out of nostalgia, but it fits the bill as one of the biggest games of the year (as it has been for every year in the past ten). But more importantly, I’m going to experience a hugely impactful title and entertainment phenomenon, all in preparation for another. Rockstar has finally made me commit to going the whole hog in Los Santos this festive season, and I can’t wait.

For more solo and narrative games to try before GTA 6 arrives, check out our guides to the best single-player games going, and the best story games you can play right now too.

]]> <![CDATA[ From Starfield to Ghost of Tsushima, open-world games struggle to keep their characters consistent ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/from-starfield-to-ghost-of-tsushima-open-world-games-struggle-to-keep-their-characters-consistent SRYRtnJfkHozXSHmJskrUi Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:14:44 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:59:02 +0000 false false false

Open-world games give us breathtaking settings across which to blaze our trails. However, amongst those wide expanses, protagonists and companions alike can sometimes be lost between the cracks. 

In a linear game, writers are free to tweak their characters in line with narrative progression, adding nuances and subtleties that can elevate dialogue and interactions to new heights. Take Joel’s journey in The Last of Us Part 1 or Cloud’s development in Final Fantasy 7 Remake - both tell stories of characters who soften as they undertake their respective journeys, meaningfully changing as people over the course of their adventures.

In a non-linear context, this can be a difficult feeling to achieve. Since certain missions in open-world games can be accessed at any time, writers are forced to hedge their bets when crafting dialogue for heroes and companions as they undertake side quests. Ideally, this dialogue must be just as apt in the game’s early stages as it would later on. However, striking this balance often necessitates the use of generic, catch-all dialogue which, by its very nature, has to ignore or underplay any character development that could take place. 

Hedging your bets 

Starfield companion Sarah Morgan in conversation with the player

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Starfield's four core companions have a lot to say. Their comments as you take off, land, dock, and make your way through dogfights add a nice sprinkling of humanity to the otherwise cold void of space. 

However, these quips and observations change little as the main story progresses. Sam Coe and his daughter will never settle their interminable arguments about books, and Sarah Morgan will remain a stick in the mud, regardless of whether or not you complete their respective companion quests. You’d think that Sarah would learn to loosen up once you help her come to terms with the loss of her old starship crew, but she's just as stolid in hour five as she is in hour 55.    

Sarah is just as stolid in hour five as she is in hour 55

The otherwise exceptional Samurai action game Ghost of Tsushima suffers from this issue, too. Despite being one of the best PS5 exclusives of its kind, protagonist Jin Sakai’s moving journey is undermined by generic dialogue during side quests.  

Jin Sakai

(Image credit: Sucker Punch)

Jin’s story takes him from an honorable Samurai to a pragmatic assassin, earning our anti-hero the ire of Lord Shimura, his would-be adopted father. The soaring tale ends with Jin dueling Shimura in single combat but regardless of whether or not you, the player, choose to spare Shimura, Jin is a samurai no more and is exiled from Clan Sakai. 

Despite his exile, characters in the game’s side missions continue to refer to Jin as “Lord Sakai”, as Jin responds with generic, open-ended dialogue - strongly contrasting the moving setpieces and personal struggles we see in the main storyline. During side missions, Jin ceases to become fully rounded, instead, he becomes a voyeur - a window into the story of another, around whom the sidequest is centered. In most of these side quests, Jin follows the quest-giver like a lost puppy, blandly acquiescing to their every whim. 

During side missions, Jin ceases to become fully rounded, instead, he becomes a voyeur

Many games are guilty of this conceit. Horizon: Forbidden West, Star Wars Jedi: Survior, and even The Witcher 3 at times all subject their protagonists to this sort of bland storytelling. While the window it affords into the gameworld is valuable, much is sacrificed in terms of characterization and nuance.  

Filling in the gaps 

Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2 holding a lasso

(Image credit: Rockstar games)

There are ways to get around this problem, however, though it does require a level of rigidity that might not be to everyone’s tastes. By gating open-world content behind story milestones, developers have been able to ensure that later quests have dialogue that better reflects the main character’s personal journey. 

This is a trick common to many of the best story games, including immersive western shooter Red Dead Redemption 2, where the journey of Arthur Morgan unfolds in stages marked by major story milestones. Though this doesn’t apply to the more minor side content, the majority of the game’s missions are framed within this structure, helping to give Arthur a sense of consistent development. This means that, even should you encounter some more generic dialogue during a minor mission, you are still very much in the wake of Arthur’s most recent emotionally fraught adventure. 

You are always in the wake of Arthur’s most recent emotionally fraught adventure

This is, in part, why his eventual falling with Dutch van der Linde, the leader of Arthur’s gang, is so emotionally resonant. Arthur’s resentment of Dutch’s blind egotism eventually comes to a boil. After simmering over the course of sets of missions, with the tensions in each set slightly more palpable than the last until, eventually, Arthur and Dutch’s relationship reaches breaking point. Thanks to this approach, the development of Arthur’s feelings seems all the more organic, and more realistic for it. 

Metal Gear Solid 5 - Screenshot

(Image credit: Konami)

Stealth action thriller Metal Gear Solid 5 not only uses a similar technique of story gating, but also has regular subplots unfold back at base so that, even if you’ve just returned from an inconsequential side-mission, you constantly feel tied into the game’s overarching narrative. The most memorable of these, the growth and training of D-Dog from adorable puppy to fully grown hound, was a particular delight and went some way to showing off protagonist Venom Snake’s softer side. 

It is possible for open-world titles to preserve character development while also offering a flexible approach to in-game tasks

Metal Gear Solid 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 show us that it is possible for open-world titles to preserve character development while also offering a flexible approach to in-game tasks. However, it’s clear that this requires a very fine balancing act which, in the case of “gating”, sacrifices some of the openness that might otherwise be on offer. 

While you can freely ride to the city of San Denis from the very start of Red Dead Redemption 2, there will be less on offer than if you arrived there organically by following the meandering route of the main story missions. To some, this could be a mark of an open world that isn’t so open - a sacrifice made in the name of meaningful character development and narrative consistency that undermines player freedom. Whether or not this sacrifice is worth it, however, is up to you. 

Looking for more immersive titles, try our lists of the best RPGs and the best single-player games. 

]]> <![CDATA[ Veteran Red Dead Redemption writer leaves Rockstar after 16 years ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/veteran-red-dead-redemption-writer-leaves-rockstar-after-16-years rhEpjpCjPgRgSMtki3vgPP Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:32:19 +0000 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:37:41 +0000 false false false

Michael Unsworth, whose work includes both Red Dead Redemption titles as well as GTA 5, has left Rockstar Games after 16 years (via VGC). A user on the GTA forums named Rucke found that Unsworth had updated his LinkedIn profile to show that he no longer works for Rockstar Games.

The veteran writer is one of only three people credited with work not only on Red Dead Redemption 2 but also on its original predecessor, making him a consistent part of the critically acclaimed series.

Unsworth is also credited with work on GTA 5, GTA 4, Max Payne 3, and LA Noire - an impressive range of titles spanning not only diverse settings but also a significant portion of Rockstar's 24 years of game development.

Rockstar has been no stranger to high-profile departures in recent years. One of the other three figures credited with work on both Red Dead Redemption titles, former creative lead and studio co-founder Dan Houser, left the company back in 2020. This year also saw the departure of Grand Theft Auto writer and producer Lazlow Jones, who was known for his dialogue work on both the series' characters and radio stations - an iconic part of GTA's soundscape. 

That said, work continues on Rockstar's upcoming open-world crime simulator GTA 6. Last month, Rockstar also revealed a new Red Dead Redemption logo, prompting speculation as to whether or not a remake might be on the horizon. 

Red Dead Redemption 2 and its predecessor have both made indelible marks on the gaming landscape, offering realistic, story-driven, and deeply emotional experiences that captivated players with heart-wrenching setpieces and true-to-life dialogue. 

The loss of Unsworth signals the end of a chapter in Red Dead Redemption history, marking the end of a creative throughline between the series' two games. The work of Unsworth and his colleagues has done a great deal to uplift and enrich the tapestry of video game storytelling, We can only hope that the legacy of figures like Unsworth, Lazlow, and Houser is carried forward in Rockstar's future work. 

Looking for more memorable titles? Try out our lists of the best single-player games as well as the best story games out there.

]]> <![CDATA[ Teenager involved with hack which led to GTA 6 leak, court finds ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/teenager-involved-with-hack-which-led-to-gta-6-leak-court-finds rTZwcyrzke3J43FizNvu38 Thu, 24 Aug 2023 16:27:54 +0000 false false false

An 18-year-old from Oxford, England, has been found to be part of a Lapsus$ group hacking spree by a court. The series of attacks affected a number of major companies, including Rockstar Games, which led to an enormous amount of leaked information about GTA 6 appearing online in September 2022.

As reported by the BBC, Arion Kurtaj was previously deemed not fit to stand trial by psychiatrists, so he did not appear in court. A 17-year-old was convicted for his involvement in Lapsus$ activities, but cannot be named due to his age. The Independent reports that the two were described as “key players” in the Lapsus$ group by the prosecution.

The court was told that Kurtaj and the 17-year-old met online and began hacking together in July 2021, with Kurtaj allegedly hacking the data files and servers of mobile network and internet providers, EE and BT (with the help of associates), leading to them being arrested in January 2022 - they were later released under investigation. After that, the court heard that the pair hacked into Nvidia in February 2022, released sensitive information online, and then demanded a ransom payment to stop them from revealing more. They were arrested on March 31, 2022, but, shortly before, Kurtaj was reportedly doxxed by a group of rival hackers, and he was moved to a hotel for his own safety while under strict bail conditions.

However, prosecutors said Kurtaj was “caught red handed” when police searched his hotel room and found an Amazon Fire Stick, which allowed him to connect to cloud computing services with a new phone, and a keyboard and mouse. Reportedly, the court heard that Kurtaj had helped attack Rockstar Games (as well as Revolut and Uber) and that during the attack on the GTA developer, he had sent a message to all employees on the company’s Slack, which read: “I am not a Rockstar employee, I am an attacker.”

Shortly after the leaked GTA 6 information surfaced online in September 2022, Rockstar Games released a public statement, and said that “an unauthorized third party illegally accessed and downloaded confidential information from our systems”. It added that the company was “extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared with you all in this way”.

Kurtaj is remanded in custody, while the unnamed 17-year-old continues to have bail. Both will be sentenced at a later date.

GTA 6 is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming games in development right now.

]]> <![CDATA[ Rockstar has acquired a major modding community ahead of GTA 6 ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/rockstar-has-acquired-a-major-modding-community-ahead-of-gta-6 b6s66UBoojmodP8b2A7JRW Mon, 14 Aug 2023 10:55:03 +0000 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 10:55:08 +0000 false false false

Rockstar has revealed that it has acquired Cfx.re, the modding community and team behind FiveM and RedM - two of the biggest role-playing servers for GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2.

As reported by our sister site GamesRadar+ recently, Cfx.re has been officially welcomed into the fold with Rockstar having "watched with excitement as Rockstar’s creative community have found new ways to expand the possibilities of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, particularly through the creation of dedicated roleplay servers". You can see Rockstar's official tweet below, which includes a link to the official news post.

This is an exciting acquisition, particularly ahead of GTA 6 - which could arrive with us next year - and leaves the door open to official mods being incorporated (potentially) into the game, or at least having mod community input. 

Cfx.re reciprocated the confirmation with a tweet and post too. The team is keen to highlight that nothing will change operationally henceforth - "day-to-day operations won’t have any noticeable changes" - and that there is no direct link to Grand Theft Auto's next installment. Cfx.re said "...for those curious about what else Rockstar is working on, please understand that our partnership with Rockstar Games is focused on our FiveM and RedM platforms. So please, do not ask us about the next GTA!" Okay, then, clear enough.

The statements, naturally, haven't stopped fans from getting enthusiastically carried away with how this coming together could affect and improve GTA 6. For context, the servers that Cfx.re hosts enables players to create their own worlds in Rockstar's games and play online together within them. This leads to a multitude of possible adventures that can be had - could these fan-made tales be adjacent to GTA 6 officially, then? Perhaps - this is one to keep an eye on.

GTA 5 is still one of the best single-player games going, and if you're after some help or shortcuts, check out our list of the top GTA 5 cheats you can work with right now.

]]> <![CDATA[ Take-Two seemingly hints again at GTA 6 being released before March 2025 ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/take-two-seemingly-hints-again-at-gta-6-being-released-before-march-2025 fn2fdsguAqCwFZQFHRqXEj Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:11:35 +0000 Wed, 09 Aug 2023 11:31:36 +0000 false false false

Take-Two has hinted again at the possibility of GTA 6 being released before March 2025. 

In the company's previous earnings report for 2024's first quarter (which ends in March 2024), the publisher reported $1.2 billion in net bookings for the quarter. While this was at the higher end of its expectations, Take-Two seems to think it can do better next fiscal year, and it may have something to do with GTA 6. 

In this earnings report, the publisher reiterated its expectations for the entire fiscal year of 2024. In this, it reported that the expectation for total net bookings would land somewhere between $5.45 to $5.55 billion. This sharp spike in net bookings could be an indication of GTA 6 releasing in that fiscal year, and the company's expectations of it.

“We remain confident that we are positioning our business for a significant inflexion point in fiscal 2025, which we believe will include new record levels of operating performance,” Take-Two CEO and chairman Strauss Zelnick said in a statement. We would like to thank all of our stakeholders for their continued support, and we look forward to delivering on this exciting next chapter.”

While this isn't the first time Take-Two has raised our spirits concerning GTA 6's release date, this confirmation would fit into the timeline that Rockstar set for itself concerning development. In 2022 a few developers leaked that GTA 6 is about two years away from completion. Time flies when you're having fun because we're fast approaching that very deadline. 

Despite a few leaks surfacing over the previous year or so hinting at setting, characters, and combat, there's still a lot left untold about this upcoming title. Hopefully, as we get closer to the end of the next fiscal year, Take-Two will start to reveal more information about this high-anticipated title. 

If you're still playing GTA 5 while you wait for the next title in the series, then check out these great GTA 5 cheats for consoles and PC, as well as how to sign up for GTA 5 social club.

]]> <![CDATA[ Red Dead Redemption selling for $50 is "commercially accurate" according to Take-Two ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/red-dead-redemption-selling-for-dollar50-is-commercially-accurate-according-to-take-two zAtUrfdEd8fA2fX7Yrp6bh Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:06:27 +0000 Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:06:32 +0000 false false false

The $50 / £40 price point for a straight port of 13-year-old Red Dead Redemption on PS4 and Nintendo Switch is "commercially accurate", according to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick.

The CEO described this to IGN in an interview following a recent earnings call for the company. Saying it's "commercially accurate" would imply that the company could potentially point to some data that would indeed show that it was "commercially accurate" - this is not quite the case, unfortunately, as the full quote reads: "That's just what we believe is the commercially accurate price for it". Obviously, Take-Two and Rockstar can price their own games wherever they want, but I'm not sure they'll find many folks also believing that it's an accurate price point in today's industry - including among their own fanbase.

As a reminder, it was revealed by Rockstar this week that Red Dead Redemption was getting a port to PS4 and Nintendo Switch - a port that is the main game and the Undead Nightmare expansion bundled up together. Responding to whether the inclusion of the expansion was responsible for the (relatively) high price tag, Zelnick did say that it "was a great standalone game", and its inclusion in this re-release makes it "great value for customers". There's no doubting the best 'value' on offer here is just convenience - a visual overhaul or something would at least be a tangible upgrade and offering of value...

Anyway, nobody will deny that Red Dead Redemption is one of the best games of the last two decades, easily. One of the best open-world games, and it's good enough to warrant being playable on all modern systems - but pricing it as if it were a brand-new current-gen game (nearly) on two consoles which are also themselves, well, 'old' seems quite punchy and also a great shame.

Might Red Dead Redemption automatically become one of the best PS4 games or the best Nintendo Switch games as a result? Quite possibly.

The Red Dead series is widely regarded as one of the best of all times: see how it stacks up against our picks for the best single-player games.

]]> <![CDATA[ Rockstar fuels remake rumors with a new Red Dead Redemption logo ]]> https://www.techradar.com/gaming/consoles-pc/rockstar-fuels-remake-rumors-with-a-new-red-dead-redemption-logo vfE5fUg9RUKQuwYuSWRZH7 Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:54:28 +0000 false false false

Rockstar's website now features a new Red Dead Redemption logo which has only fanned the flames of speculation that a remake or remaster release is imminent.

As spotted by Twitter user TezFunz2, (spotted by VGC) the new logo is a cleaner, clearer, crisper version of the logo compared to its predecessor. This in itself could be the reason for the change of course - some internal housekeeping. However, the further addition of a game referenced as "Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar Presents Ver)" has been added to the internal listings on the site as well. 

The new image is below. It looks quite similar to the old one but the updated game name and the overall overhaul compared to the previous/older logo leans to there being a

New Red Dead Redemption logo on a white background

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Combine this with the fact that the game received a new or updated classification by the South Korean Game Rating and Administration Committee last month, and we're starting to - well, potentially - see a mount up of evidence pointing to a new release of the game. For what it's worth, that particular Korean rating committee does have previous form with revealing upcoming releases through classifications too.

One of the finest open-world games of the PS3/Xbox 360 generation, the game is still playable on Xbox One, a full remake of the game - in Red Dead Redemption 2's updated engine and also onto PC particularly - will be welcomed with open arms by fans and the community. Especially while we wait for any more information on GTA 6...

Personally, it'd be a most welcome remake for my library: having just finished Red Dead Redemption 2  - and having added the original to my recently resurgent PS3 library - the timing is perfect to dive back into the first game again, and play it like the sequel it is.

We've reached out to Rockstar Games for comment, and if they get back to us, we'll update this story. 

Looking for more games like Red Dead Redemption? Check out our guide to the best single-player games and best single-player games on Game Pass to get stuck into.

]]> <![CDATA[ How Red Dead Redemption 2 helped me through a near death experience ]]> https://www.techradar.com/features/how-red-dead-redemption-2-helped-me-through-a-near-death-experience XZVGYkn78HDJzAcPRJdDJU Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:54:36 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:05:19 +0000 false false false

Few moments in gaming have stayed with me the way that Red Dead Redemption 2 has. For as much as I loved the experience when it was originally released all the way back in 2018, I found a new appreciation for the story and characters during a recent replay while recovering from a pulmonary embolism. 

Back in February, I found that my chest began to hurt. I quickly found myself struggling to breathe or walk as everything became a struggle. Only when I started coughing blood, I realized something was gravely wrong. Within hours, I was in hospital where after many scans, I was admitted to various wards for the better part of a week, never fully grasping just how close I came to dying. 

Going home was hard. I was placed on new medication and forced to give up the majority of things I enjoyed with a much more careful lifestyle than the one I previously led.  Recently, a full playthrough of Red Dead Redemption 2 helped me fully understand what I went through as I drew parallels between what had happened to myself and Arthur Morgan in my time with Rockstar’s latest open-world game. 

Arthur Morgan is one of the most complicated characters to grace modern gaming, with snippets of his personality unraveling in what is sometimes an incredibly slow burn.

I saw him change from a flawed man making bad decisions to someone trapped in a life that was actively killing him. Early into the story, Morgan assaults Thomas Downes to extort the money borrowed from his partner Strauss. Thomas coughs blood into Arthur’s mouth, which unknowingly infects him with Tuberculosis, a death sentence back then, as resistant drugs and treatment weren’t invented until decades after the game’s time setting. 

Time to reflect  

Arthur Morgan

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Throughout the many shootouts and crimes committed in Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s the dialogue between characters that had the most significant impact on me. Arthur’s decline is gradual. We don’t notice the effects of his sickness until his cough becomes more pronounced, and his face starts to look withered around the end of Chapter 2. He goes from a man who blindly follows orders to someone who begins to live and think for himself; something that I was guilty of being like before I was admitted. 

As a transgender woman, there were many times when I felt compelled to dress reserved and hide who I was from the public to live in a way that was uncomfortable for me but inoffensive to the majority. When I was lying in the hospital bed, hooked up to the monitoring machines and being administered life-saving injections, that fear went away. I felt as though I could finally breathe and fully be myself for the first time in decades. I could see myself dying. 

For weeks I struggled to come to terms with what I was feeling. I had endured the pain to nail down exactly what I was going through internally. Only when I heard Arthur Morgan in a late-game conversation with Sister Calderón did it all fall into place for me. Morgan explains the regrets and personal tragedies he’s experienced in his life, and Calderón says: “Life is full of pain, but also love and beauty” and “to be grateful for the first time you see your life clearly”. It’s followed by a scene of Arthur smiling before his expression goes somber, and he lets out: “I’m afraid”. Finally, I could fully come to terms with everything that had happened to me—fear, pain, and not knowing what the future holds. 

Through the roughly 60-hour story, including the epilogue with John Marston, I was able to relate and immerse myself in the boots of this character going through something truly harrowing. My illness may have been different, but I could connect the throughline and know that it could express the situation far better than I ever could, and that’s something I’ll never forget.  

]]> <![CDATA[ New Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer shows off first-person mode and beard management ]]> https://www.techradar.com/news/new-red-dead-redemption-2-trailer-shows-off-first-person-mode-and-beard-management zXf5mbttnNFgP8ZxWkyHNL Fri, 04 Nov 2022 12:54:41 +0000 false false false

The second part of the Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay trailer has dropped, giving us plenty to get excited about. 

The first part of the gameplay trailer landed in August, showing off terrains, deeper interactions and camps. The second part of the gameplay trailer focuses on the wide range of activities Arthur and the Van der Linde gang can get up to including holding up banks, robbing trains, taking down bounty hunters and collecting debts. We also get a closer look at the updated dead-eye system and how you can choose to management Arthur’s facial hair (aka the most important part).

Check out the new gameplay trailer below:

Red Dead Redemption 2 releases on Xbox One and PS4 on October 26. Not long to wait now!

]]> <![CDATA[ Red Dead Redemption 2 will run great on my Steam Deck soon thanks to an update ]]> https://www.techradar.com/news/red-dead-redemption-2-finally-runs-great-on-my-steam-deck-but-whats-next kFshsWqjYqiVvMuRXgYJcB Tue, 04 Oct 2022 10:38:16 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:05:42 +0000 false false false

If, like me, you rushed to install Red Dead Redemption 2 on your Steam Deck, only to find it running at a disappointingly low speed, a fix has arrived to alleviate that.

According to Gaming on Linux, Rockstar's game has been included as part of a Mesa update, which allows a bunch of games to run on the Steam Deck's SteamOS, alongside Linux PCs with an AMD GPU.

The comment in this update describes a memory leak, which is where an application erroneously uses too much memory in a device, slowing everything down.

Expect this fix to arrive as part of the next SteamOS update, but it could arrive sooner if you're on the Beta channel, found in the Settings menu.

The fast pace of updates

Gogeta in Dragon Ball FighterZ

(Image credit: Arc System Works)

I'm only a fortnight into owning my Steam Deck, and already it's one of the best purchases I've made in recent years. It's already replaced my PS Vita that I'd carry in my bag for the commute, so being able to play Resident Evil 2 Remake, Outer Wilds and Tomb Raider Legend on the train is a sight to behold.

Yet seeing Red Dead Redemption 2 play at full speed is a greater sight, and it makes me excited for what future models of the Steam Deck could bring.

I have to keep reminding myself, though, that it's not a handheld – it's a PC, and so it's constantly being updated by Valve to bring enhancements and fixes to games that have been running slow before.

To highlight this quick pace of updates, Valve has already brought out another one that enables you to load custom boot animations for when you switch the Steam Deck on – so if you want to have an Xbox animation, you only need to place it into a folder.

While all this is going on, I've installed a 1TB microSD card to put more games on, but I can't help but wish for other games to find a way to work on the Steam Deck. From DragonBall FighterZ to Destiny 2 and Fortnite, these all have an anti-cheat system built-in that stops the Deck from making them playable.

Hopefully there'll be a way thanks to Valve and the developers involved someday. But for now, there's plenty to love with this handheld PC, and its best days are clearly ahead of it.

A previous version of this article stated that Proton was involved in this update, and was available soon - this has now been corrected.

]]> <![CDATA[ AMD FSR 2.0 mods start to flood in as gamers can’t wait for frame rate boosts ]]> https://www.techradar.com/news/amd-fsr-20-mods-start-to-flood-in-as-gamers-cant-wait-for-frame-rate-boosts ooBENfMzrnwxdgcTikzyC7 Tue, 05 Jul 2022 10:10:15 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:59:40 +0000 false false false

AMD’s FSR 2.0 (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is still relatively fresh to the gaming scene, and hardly in any games at all yet – but modders have taken the situation into their own hands in some cases, when it comes to unofficially pushing support for the frame rate boosting tech.

We’ve already seen a mod for Cyberpunk 2077 from the amusingly-named modder PotatoOfDoom, which essentially leverages DLSS support to bring in FSR 2.0, and that workaround is now also live in mods for Red Dead Redemption 2 and Dying Light 2. The latter were worked on by other modders on Nexus Mods, but still based on PotatoOfDoom’s original mod.

As PC Gamer reports, other gamers are now trying to employ this technique with the likes of Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition and Guardians of the Galaxy, and doubtless further DLSS-supporting titles to follow.

So how good are the results from these sort-of-thrown-together mod solutions? Well, they’re not ideal as you might anticipate, although a performance boost is certainly delivered, even if the upscaled image is noticeably softer compared to running in the native target resolution (and there are some minor issues with artifacts as well).

With full FSR 2.0 support, the difference in quality (to native resolution) is barely noticeable and closely rivals DLSS 2.0 in terms of upscaling chops.

Of course, we wouldn’t expect modders to be able to achieve the same results, and it sounds like what they have done here works well enough, and could certainly act as a stopgap while waiting for developers to get on the case with bringing in FSR 2.0 support.

Analysis: Patience is a virtue, but not when it comes to frame rates…

This is a measure of just how keen gamers are to get FSR 2.0 support for the titles they enjoy, while at the same time, it certainly highlights a degree of impatience about getting wider support for the Nvidia DLSS rival. So far, only three games support FSR 2.0 officially (Deathloop, God of War, and Farming Simulator 22), but more are promised to be inbound soon.

Now, there are some big hitters on the incoming list – like Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and EVE Online – but also a lot of relative gaming minnows in all honesty. So it’s not too surprising that gamers with modding chops are taking matters into their own hands to at least see the kind of results which are possible with workarounds.

It’s going to take time to build up a library of games that officially support FSR 2.0, of course – just look at how long it took Nvidia to push forward with DLSS support. Team Green, of course, has a big head-start in that respect, seeing as DLSS has been around for coming on four years now (believe it or not).

There are key advantages AMD has with FSR 2.0 being open source and freely available, with promises already having been made about how easy it is to implement for games that already support DLSS 2.0. In fact, AMD claims that for those titles, FSR 2.0 could be bolted on in just a matter of a few days (best-case scenario, but still, you get the general idea – it can happen very fast given the will). And these modding efforts appear to back up that assertion, what with them coming together pretty speedily.

Other fast routes to FSR 2.0 adoption include devs with games built on Unreal Engine (UE 4 or 5) that can use AMD’s plug-in, and so before too long, we’re hoping to see more support coming through quite quickly – in much faster fashion than the timeline witnessed with DLSS, for sure. That doesn’t mean Team Red hasn’t still got some considerable ground to make up, but it should be able to cover that turf with quite a turn of pace, if these early signs and promises are anything to go by.

AMD will also be pushing its other big advantages over DLSS, namely a wider coverage for graphics cards with FSR, including Nvidia models – as opposed to DLSS which requires an RTX GPU – and also the maintenance of FSR 1.0 as an admittedly lower quality solution than FSR 2.0, but one which allows for lesser-spec GPUs to still benefit from the frame rate boosting tech.

]]> <![CDATA[ Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes announced by Remedy, will boast ‘AAA-game production’ ]]> https://www.techradar.com/news/max-payne-1-and-2-remakes-announced-by-remedy-will-boast-aaa-game-production jYJewhYRVbr885rmUqSWM3 Thu, 07 Apr 2022 03:07:18 +0000 Thu, 07 Apr 2022 05:43:08 +0000 false false false

It's time to grab your best leather jacket and leopard-print shirt, because Remedy Entertainment has announced it's remaking the first two Max Payne games for next-gen consoles and PC.

Announced via Remedy's investor website, the Finnish game developer has entered an agreement with publisher Rockstar, which still holds the copyright to the series, to remake the original Max Payne and its sequel, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne.

While the project is currently in its early concept development stage, Remedy has revealed that both games will be released in a single bundle for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S.

Modernizing Max Payne

According to the announcement, Remedy will develop the games using its own proprietary Northlight game engine (the same one it used for the utterly fantastic metaphysical shooter Control), with the developer promising "AAA-game production."

Sounds like a costly endeavour. Luckily, Rockstar is more than willing to front all of the cash for the Max Payne collection's production budget, marketing and distribution costs, with Remedy set to receive royalties after the fact.

“We were thrilled when our long-time friends at Remedy approached us about remaking the original Max Payne games,” said Rockstar Games founder Sam Houser. “We are massive fans of the work the Remedy team has created over the years, and we can’t wait to play these new versions.”

Max Payne: a quick rundown

For the uninitiated, Max Payne is a hard-boiled, noir-tinged thriller about an ex-cop who sets out to avenge his murdered family. Arriving a couple of years after The Matrix, Max Payne's big claim to fame was its "bullet-time" shooting mechanic, which allowed players to dive through the air in slow-motion, shooting bad guys as Matrix-inspired bullet trails whizzed by.

Following the success of its first two Max Payne games, Remedy went on try something different, developing the Twin Peaks-inspired survival horror game Alan Wake, while Rockstar set out to make Max Payne 3 on its own.

As great as the third Max Payne game was, we're extremely excited about the prospect of the series' creators revisiting the franchise that made it famous and bringing it up to modern gameplay and graphical standards. Obviously it's too early to speculate on a release date, though we'll let you know as soon as we hear anything.

]]> <![CDATA[ Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats: codes for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and more ]]> https://www.techradar.com/how-to/red-dead-redemption-2-cheats-codes-for-ps4-xbox-one-pc-and-more Wwz6eNGGTLmxgN6TXWMCJ9 Wed, 06 Apr 2022 14:37:13 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:06:09 +0000 false false false

On the trail for Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats? Arthur's journey through the wild west isn't always easy, but that's all the more reason to spice things up. 

Compared to GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2 does things a little differently with its cheats, keeping their wacky factor dialed down, but certainly producing no less fun.

Some cheats will require you to use a newspaper to unlock, but there are some cheats you can use any time you'd like, all of which remain the same across the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. So whether you want to gear up with infinite ammo, spawn in a circus wagon, or just replace your beloved horse that went to live on the farm with your aunt after your last gunfight, we've got you covered.


Red Dead Redemption 2 Cheats

How to enter and unlock cheats in Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats - Two masked gunmen fire their pistols

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Inputting cheats is the same on every platform, which keeps things nice and simple.


  • First, pause the game to get to your menu.
  • Choose the settings tab.
  • In the bottom right you'll see a prompt to input a cheat, so hit the appropriate key to open it.
  • If you haven't put in cheats before you'll get an empty list, but you can hit the same key again to type in one.
  • From there you'll be able to turn them on or off when you want them.

Be forewarned, as is often the case: using cheats prevents you from saving, or earning Achievements/Trophies.

You'll also need to purchase a newspaper for some of the cheats. You'll find each newspaper for sale in two different locations:

  • The Blackwater Ledger is available in Blackwater and Strawberry
  • The New Hanover Gazette is available in Annesburg and Valentine
  • The Saint Denis Times is available in Saint Denis and Rhodes

Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats - items or money

Need to replenish your arsenal or keep the bullets flowing freely? Arthur will thank you for making his life a little easier.

CodeEffectRequirements
History is written by foolsGives you a loadout of gunslinger weapons (Off-hand holster,double-action revolver, Schofield revolver, double-barreled shotgun)None
Greed is American virtueGives you a loadout of heavy weapons (Bolt-action rifle, pump-action shotgun, semi-automatic pistol, and Mauser pistol)Buy the Saint Denis Times #46 or Blackwater Ledger #65 after finishing the mission" Magicians for Sport" mission in Chapter 3
Death is silenceGives you a loadout of stealthy weaponry (throwing knives, improved knives, poison knives, tomahawks, homing tomahawks, and a machete))None
A simple life, a beautiful deathGives you a loadout of basic weapons (Cattleman revolver, Lancaster repeater, and Springfield rifle)None
Greed is now a virtueGives you $500None
Abundance is the dullest desireGives you infinite ammoBuy the New Hanover Gazette #27 or Blackwater Ledger #62 after finishing the mission "Eastward Bound" in Chapter 1.

Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats - horses and wagons

Red Dead Redemption 2 - A man rides a horse in a field

(Image credit: Rockstar)
CodeEffectRequirements
Run! Run! Run!Spawns a race horseNone
You are a beast built for warSpawns a war horsePurchase Blackwater Ledger #72 after completing the mission "The Wheel" in the Epilogue
Keep your dreams simpleSpawns a wagon with one horseNone
The best of the old waysSpawns a stagecoachNone
You want more than you haveSpawns a rose gray bay Arabian horseNone
You want something newSpawns a horse of a random breed and coatNone
Keep your dreams lightSpawns a horse with a buggyNone
Would you be happier as a clown?Spawns a circus wagonPurchase Blackwater Ledger #73 after completing the mission "The Landowning Classes" in the Epilogue
My kingdom is a horseIncreases your bonding with all owned horsesNone
Better than my dogAllows you to call your horse from any distanceNone

Whether you need a faithful steed, a wagon to haul, or just want to become better buddies with your one-horsepower grass engine, these cheats will get you there in style.

Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats - modify your character

Red Dead Redemption 2 Cheats - Two men stand on a snowy mountain trail

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Want to power yourself up with unlimited stamina, maxed out Deadeye, or even just get properly drunk anytime, anywhere? Here's your shot!

CodeEffectRequirements
Be greedy only for foresightGrants unlimited Deadeye reserveNone
The lucky be strong evermoreGrants unlimited stamina reservePurchase Blackwater Ledger #68 after finishing the mission "Dear Uncle Tacitus" in Chapter 5.
You flourish before you dieSets your health, stamina, and Deadeye bars to fullNone
Guide me betterSets your Deadeye to level 1None
Make me betterSets your Deadeye to level 2None
I shall be betterSets your Deadeye to level 3None
I still seek moreSets your Deadeye to level 4None
I seek and I findSets your Deadeye to level 5None
Seek all the bounty of this placeIncreases your health, stamina, and Deadeye bar levelsNone
You seek more than the world offersRefills and fortifies your health, stamina, and Deadeye barsPurchase New Hanover Gazette #36 after finishing the mission "The King's Son'" in Chapter 6.
A fool on commandMakes you drunk instantlyNone

Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats - honor and wanted level

Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats - Two men fire their guns in town

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

On the run from the law because you stole the wrong horse, or had one too many gunfights over burned breakfast? Or maybe you'd just like to start your very own stagecoach chase? These will help you out.

CodeEffectRequirements
Virtue unearned is not virtueRaises your honor ratingPurchase Blackwater Ledger #67 after finishing the mission "Urban Pleasures" in Chapter 4
You revel in your disgrace, I seeSets your honor to the minimum amountNone
Balance. All is balanceSets your honor to neutralNone
You want freedomReduces your wanted ratingNone
You want punishmentIncreases your wanted ratingNone
You want everyone to go awayEliminates all current wanted status and bounties across the townNone

Red Dead Redemption 2 miscellaneous cheats

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Two people sit at a campsite in front of wagons

(Image credit: Rockstar)
CodeEffectRequirements
You long for sight and see nothingReveals the entire mapPurchase either Blackwater Ledger #66 or New Hanover Gazette #31 after finishing mission "The Joys of Civilization" in Chapter 4
Vanity. All is vanityUnlocks all outfits in Arthur's wardrobeNone
Eat of knowledgeUnlocks all crafting recipesNone
ShareGives you all ledger upgrades and increases max supply levelsNone
]]> <![CDATA[ Weird West is the best Western since Red Dead Redemption 2 ]]> https://www.techradar.com/features/weird-west-is-the-best-western-since-red-dead-redemption-2 CJJwG77ijUruxfRLRCwKnF Thu, 31 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:02:42 +0000 false false false

Red Dead Redemption 2 better buckle on its holsters, there’s another gunslinger in town. 

Weird West might just be the best use of the Wild West setting I’ve seen in a game. All the classic hallmarks of the genre are there, accentuated and transformed through handfuls of horror and eldritch magic. It’s an isometric immersive sim from the minds behind Dishonored and Prey that manages to capture the grit of the Western genre without aping its cinematic roots.

It’s high noon and Weird West is riding into town.

A grizzled eldritch world

A gunfight between two cowboys in Weird West

(Image credit: Devolver Digital)

Weird West begins like any Western should – with strife, bloodshed, and revenge. The first character you’ll control – out of five, which are gradually introduced across an overarching story – is a retired bounty hunter. She’s forced to pick up her revolvers after a group of ne’er-do-well bandits kill her son and kidnap her husband. 

You’ll travel across burgeoning pioneer towns, lonely ranches, and abandoned mines on a quest for vengeance. There are saloons to frequent, bounties to pursue, and hidden treasures to track, all while gunning down belligerent outlaws. It’s everything you’d expect of a place where people call handguns “irons” and to be “above snakes” is a good thing.

But then there’s everything you absolutely wouldn’t expect of the setting. Cannibals, mainly. Grotesque, shapeshifting cannibals that disguise themselves as outlaws or sheriffs. There are zombies, too, and werewolves and wraiths. Not to mention witches who mutate their victims into grotesque anthropomorphic pig hybrids. Weird West presents an alternate version of the Old West infused with magical horror. Monstrosities stalk the landscape and mysterious eldritch forces are at work behind the scenes.

In Weird West, you’re only one random encounter away from death

None of that feels jarring. In fact, it only enhances the dangers of the unexplored (read: uncolonized) American Frontier. Danger is baked into the very environment and unknown hazards taint the horizon. Leaving settlements to travel across the world map can prove lethal should you run into some fetid demon spawn. In Weird West, you’re only one random encounter away from death; one bad decision from game over (before a quick load sends you thirty seconds back in time).

Preparation is key. You have a bevy of skills to upgrade and perks to unlock that’ll shape your character into a gun-toting hero, or saber-tooth monster. Weird West’s five weapon types – revolvers, rifles, shotguns, bows, and melee – all offer varying combat capabilities that make fights fluid. Later, you’ll have more extravagant supernatural abilities to play with, too, like transforming into a werewolf or teleporting short distances.

Add to that your bullet time ability, which sends you leaping into the air in slow motion, and you’ve got a combat system that’s halfway between The Matrix and a top-down shoot ‘em up. Few Wild West tropes are left on the table, but Weird West isn’t without its own identity.

A land of opportunity

A witch by a magical tree in Weird West

(Image credit: Devolver Digital)

This isn’t only a grizzly and dark world: it’s also one of opportunity. Concise side quests push you off the beaten track through rocky plains, swamps, and more surprising wintry environments, on your search for fame and fortune. Rock up into any town, and you’ll always find a bounty board that needs clearing, or townsfolk desperate for aid. 

You’ll write your own story with these optional quests. At the end of each chapter, your actions are compiled into a neat record, collecting your decisions and accomplishments. Some of those will affect the story, as you encounter characters you spared in previous chapters, or subtly influence the world around you, as characters and newspaper clippings speak of your heroics and misdeeds.

Weird West doesn’t match the scale of Red Dead Redemption 2, but its world feels just as alive – or as alive as the desolate plains of cattle ranches and canyons should. There’s purpose in this place, driven by meaningful character choices that sell the idea you’re a lone hero, making your way through a hostile world.


Weird West is the Western video game I’ve been waiting for

That sense of freedom doesn’t let up. The game has a level of verticality that takes its cues from the original Deus Ex and is rarely seen in other isometric RPGs. You’ll be hopping through windows, climbing up buildings, and traversing craggy landscapes to find the perfect marksman position. Often, it’s better to approach a situation without unloading your revolver at all, quietly dispatching enemies as they patrol an area by slinking along the rooftops.

It all fits the immersive sim style the team perfected while working at Arkane and it suits the Western theme brilliantly. Crouching close to the dirt before maneuvering into position and throwing a stick of dynamite into the laps of your enemies doesn’t just feel satisfying, it puts you in your very own cowboy adventure. It’s you against the world; there’s nothing to protect you in these badlands and you’ll have to use every ounce of guile to navigate them.

 Something new

A pigman in Weird West

(Image credit: Devolver Digital)

Weird West is the Western video game I’ve been waiting for. The kind of game that uses the best parts of my favorite movies as a springboard to reach somwhere new. There’s danger, adventure, and far too many barrels of TNT scattered about. But there’s also an exotic world to explore, riddled with mystery and magic.

]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 5 money: how to make cash in Grand Theft Auto ]]> https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-make-money-in-gta-5-what-to-do-to-get-rich-quickly NazkRF9T7sgcTF7rzk2iTf Wed, 16 Mar 2022 10:27:17 +0000 Tue, 18 Oct 2022 15:10:22 +0000 false false false

In GTA 5, money and guns are essential to your success in Los Santos. Who would've thought that living above the law would be so expensive?

If you want to ride around in the flashiest vehicles, shoot sharp with the most precise guns, and suit up in the finest gangster threads in town, you’ll need fistfuls of cold hard cash.

Luckily, the world of GTA 5 is full of potential - if, by potential, you mean the opportunity to make fat stacks of the green stuff.

Everyone knows that punching NPCs and seeing what small change tumbles out is less of a big earner than it is a sadistic and/or funny way to kill time. There are plenty of others ways to build your bank balance, but with such a variety on offer, which avenues are actually worth the time and effort invested in them? While you can always use GTA 5 cheats to garner riches, it's best to do it all legitimately, if not legally.

That's where we can help. We've put together a list of the best cash-earning activities that are worth your energy and can give you the best returns on your time investments. 

Here is everything you need to know about how to make money in and around the city of Los Santos - and how to keep an eye on it to prevent bankruptcy.

Everything you need to know about GTA 5 money

GTA 5 money: Why do you need money?

A pile of money and weapons lay on a table in GTA 5

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Before starting, it's important to know how GTA 5 money actually works. You play as three central characters during your stint in the game in the form of Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. All three of them have separate bank accounts, as well as unique vehicles and stats. Like in the real world, you have to spend money to make money in GTA 5. Knowing which characters have some capital saved can benefit you in the long run. 

From the stats menu, you can check how much money each character has. This will allow you to invest in the right stocks and buy weapons to make it through activities quicker. 

Stats are also worth paying attention to in a broader sense too. If you are about to do something heavy on driving, Franklin is your best bet - he has a naturally high driving skill and a special ability to slow downtime. If something favors stealth or shooting, Michael is your choice. If you are about to start flying or want a tank, Trevor is your man. 


GTA 5 money: the biggest earners

Los Santos seen from afar

(Image credit: Rockstar)

The world of GTA 5 slowly opens up to you. You start off with a little bit of cash but not all that much to do with it just yet - not until the characters are together and the game's meatier missions are actually available. For that reason, you shouldn't worry too much about money at the start of the game. Get out there and do the missions - activities will come later. 

Though missions themselves aren't always a great way to make money, they are a good way of unlocking the rest of the world. You can also replay them from the "Game" tab in the pause menu if there is anything you want to go for again. The heists you complete during the story give a nice cash injection, for example.

GTA 5 money: petty crimes and activities

Police cars on fire in snow covered area

(Image credit: Rockstar)

Before getting to the real good stuff, it's worth understanding what parts of the world you can exploit. People in richer neighborhoods hold more cash on them but the security is a bit tighter. If you want to play it a little riskier, rob them and get out of there quickly. This can be made easier with a melee or suppressed weapon. You can do this to people using an ATM to get a big cashout.

If you're feeling more daring and have your hands on a firearm, you can hold up a shop by pointing your gun at the cashier. First, scope out the area and look for a good hiding spot. This is necessary to avoid getting busted during your criminal undertakings. 

Once you have an understanding of the space, walk in and hold up the shopkeeper. You can get them to move quicker by shooting around them. Grab the cash they hand over, make it to your hiding spot and wait it out until searches blow over. 


GTA 5 money: car racing

Cars racing in GTA 5 Online

(Image credit: Rockstar)

If you want to get Franklin lots of money early on, racing is a great way of doing so. It requires a little bit of legwork first though. 

As you progress the story, you'll unlock the mission "Pulling Favors". Finish this and the "Shift Work" mission will open up. This will unlock races that you can take part in after 8 PM. Upgrade Franklin's ride and use his power to slow down time to win these races for a nice cash boost. 

You might want to consider investing in your car too as it will be worth it long-term. This will make it easier to win races. You can then use the winnings from races to invest in the stock market. 

GTA 5 money: investing in stocks

LCN stock markets

(Image credit: Rockstar)

This is perhaps one of the best ways of making money in GTA 5 but it has a slight learning curve. To access your stock market, go into your phone and go on the "Internet" section. From here, click on either BAWSAQ or LCN. There, go to the "Markets" tab to see all you can buy. Just click on a stock to find out how it is performing and to purchase it for yourself. You can then see all you've bought in the "My Portfolio" section. 

Broadly speaking, LCN is a more volatile market, prone to huge highs and desperate lows. If you are looking to gamble for a lot of money, this is where you should go. If you're looking for a more moderate and consistent profit, BAWSAQ is your choice. Essentially, you want to look at a stock that has been going downhill, wait until you think it will rise, and then invest in it. Buy low, sell high, as they say.

It's worth remembering that every company has a competitor. If one is doing particularly well, keep an eye on their competition. 

Finally, if you're willing to do some light cheating, you can invest a lot into one stock via LCN, save your game, then keep an eye on the stock you bought. If it rockets upwards, sell. If it tanks, just reload your save and wait. This is perhaps a little bit cheeky but it's a good way of getting good money.

GTA 5 money: assassinations

Michael points a gun

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Now that you've earned some money earlier into the game, this activity requires you to advance the story a bit more until Lester's missions are available. Here, he will task you with taking out certain high-priority targets to shape the stock market. Invest exactly as he says to profit majorly. 

Though you can mostly figure these out from conversations, here are a few of the investments you should make:

  • Before "The Hotel Assassination"(the first assassination), you should invest in Betta Pharmaceuticals(BET) via BAWSAQ. Sell off after and invest in Bilkington Research(BIL) via LCN. 
  • Before the Multi Target Assassination, invest in Debonair(DEB) via LCN, sell it, then invest in Redwood Cigarettes(RWC) in LCN after. 

Though there are only a handful of assassinations in the game, this is an excellent way of earning yourself some money. If you can, try and save a chunk of money before you do these to really maximize your returns. 


]]> <![CDATA[ GTA 5 saves: how to transfer save progression to PS5 and Xbox Series X ]]> https://www.techradar.com/how-to/gta-5-saves-transfer-ps5-xbox-series-x ZaBiNzvsprvFUJi6m7L6mm Tue, 15 Mar 2022 13:42:44 +0000 Tue, 18 Oct 2022 13:49:37 +0000 false false false

Some people have been playing the same GTA 5 saves for a long, long time. The title has launched on its third generation of consoles after almost a decade, having initially launched on the PS3 and Xbox 360 back in 2013.

Its seemingly endless popularity has meant it's one of the most evergreen in history and remains a must-have for players just as much today as it was at launch. 

Because of that, many gamers have game files and GTA Online profiles older than their own children, with years of time invested into them. With the release of GTA 5 Expanded and Enhanced, you need not worry - your progress with travel with you as you make the jump, meaning you can play your old saves on the PS5 and Xbox Series X!

That being said, there are some caveats and complexities to this process that you need to get your head around. Some saves are easy to transfer between consoles, but you might have trouble as a PC gamer looking to branch out to a next-gen console. 

Don't fret - we can guide you through it all. Here's what you need to know about bringing your GTA 5 saves and profiles into the next generation. 

Transferring your GTA 5 saves

GTA 5 saves: how to transfer save files

Michael is in front of his car in the desert

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Transferring your save from either the PS4 or Xbox One to the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S is not too difficult, but there are a couple of hoops you need to jump through. Bear in mind, you can only transfer one save on your Social Club account, so make sure you are uploading the one you really want.  

First off, you need to have a Rockstar Social Club account. Head over to the developer's website and sign up. Once you've done that, you need to link your PlayStation and/or Xbox accounts. To do that, go into your profile settings and select the Linked Accounts tabs, then just sign in to your accounts through there.

Once you're all linked up, load into the save that you would like to bring to new generation consoles. When you've loaded into the save, go into Options and head over to the Game tab. The last option you see will say Upload Save Game. This will upload the save to Rockstar servers, ready for the next-gen transfer. 

Now that you have your save uploaded. It's time to get it onto your PS5 or Xbox Series X or S. Once you have the game installed, head over to the Story tab. You should see an option to Resume Story. Select that and you can download your save. 

Can you transfer between Xbox and PlayStation consoles?

GTA 5

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

You can, actually! If you have moved from the Xbox One to PS5 or PS4 to an Xbox Series console, don't worry - this process is available for you. It works the exact same way, and because the save is hosted by Rockstar, you can transfer your GTA 5 saves between console families. 

If for some reason you were wondering if this extended to the PS3 or Xbox 360 saves, it sadly doesn't. If you've not touched your game since that generation of consoles, you're sadly a little out of luck. 

Can you transfer a PC save to a next-generation console?

GTA 5 on PS5 and Xbox Series X

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Sadly, the functionality ends there. PC GTA 5 saves are not compatible with console saves so the process can't be done that way. You will have to start again if you were planning on moving from your rig to your new console.

]]> <![CDATA[ Next-gen GTA 5 could be delayed again ]]> https://www.techradar.com/news/next-gen-gta-5-could-be-delayed-again ibFMtak5ELJhKxhXbXAXhh Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:01:38 +0000 Tue, 02 Aug 2022 10:06:31 +0000 false false false

A Brazilian dataminer by the name of Matheusvictorbr has claimed on Twitter that the upcoming PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S ports of Grand Theft Auto 5 could be delayed by another month or two.

According to its own sources, the dataminer states Rockstar Games is still aiming for a March release, but development is proving complicated. However, it does not provide any specifics.

They add that an article from Rockstar is coming soon, presumably one that will provide an update on the next-gen GTA 5, including a potential delay to either April or May.

Roughstar Games

While we'll need to wait for an official statement from Rockstar itself, the lack of any updates on the next-gen versions could potentially herald a delay.

They already had to be delayed once before, with their original release date being in November, and Rockstar and parent company Take-Two might be more receptive to a second one following the disastrous launch of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition.

What doesn't help is how unimpressed its fans seems to be with the new versions of Grand Theft Auto 5. It's initial reveal failed to really explain what improvements would be made and while the second promised improved visuals and other tweaks, many think it looks no different to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions.

When the trailer was uploaded to YouTube, it garnered 90K dislikes and only 23K likes. Since then, while the amount of likes has bumped up to 65K, the dislikes have jumped even further to 305K.

GTA 5 is easily one of Rockstar's biggest success stories, but it is also nearly 10 years old. While it's fun to slap on some GTA 5 cheats and cause chaos, that's hard to maintain for a decade. Fans have clearly grown tired of playing the same game and are increasingly desperate to hear or see anything related to Grand Theft Auto 6, something that has been desired for a good few years now.

]]> <![CDATA[ A Bully 2 reveal is imminent, according to latest rumor ]]> https://www.techradar.com/news/a-bully-2-reveal-is-imminent-according-to-latest-rumor AqDDWAWMLahNesXWjnEBG4 Tue, 14 Dec 2021 15:18:26 +0000 false false false

Bully 2 could finally be announced soon, after reportedly being pulled from The Game Awards 2021. The sequel to Rockstar's divisive school sim has been long-rumored, but it sounds like an official reveal could be on the way soon.

As reported by GamesRadar, prominent gaming leaker Tom Henderson (who has previously correctly predicted details for Call of Duty Vanguard and Battlefield 2042) tweeted that "some people" had seen a playable version of Bully 2 a couple of weeks prior to The Game Awards, suggesting that a reveal would be taking place soon. 

Henderson claims that the sequel was "expected as a potential surprise reveal" at the event on December 9, but stressed that "information is a bit blurry at the moment" and that he had to remain "quite vague".

A long-rumored sequel

The original Bully released on PS2 all the way back in 2006, with an enhanced port known as Bully: Scholarship Edition releasing in 2008 for Wii, Xbox 360 and PC. A mobile port followed almost a decade later in 2016, which was handled by the same studio responsible for the controversial Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition.

Bully was a divisive game for its time, but still managed to find a loyal fanbase thanks to its novel blend of open-world exploration and juvenile school life, complete with criteria like attending minigame-centric lessons on time, and going to bed at the dorms each night before you tire out.

Rumors of Bully 2 date back to 2019, where the game was reportedly in the works at Rockstar, but was canceled soon after development got started. Following this, a Bully Easter egg spotted in GTA Online once again sparked rumors that something was happening with the long-dormant series, but nothing has come of this as of yet.

Even if the rumors are nothing but smoke and mirrors, we think it's fair to say Rockstar could use all the good publicity it can get right now. The aforementioned GTA Trilogy remasters, paired with the continued radio silence of the GTA 5 PS5 and Xbox Series X/S enhanced port has seen the developer fall from grace somewhat in the eyes of many fans. 

Official news of a Bully sequel could at least salvage some of that goodwill, showing Rockstar is still dedicated to its back catalog of franchises. And with GTA 6 likely a few years away still, seeing some more Rockstar games fill the void would be very welcome.

]]> <![CDATA[ Rockstar apologizes for botched GTA trilogy and makes old versions available ]]> https://www.techradar.com/news/rockstar-apologizes-for-botched-gta-trilogy-and-makes-old-versions-available V9jinbgYDmEJN9huxLfdSd Fri, 19 Nov 2021 18:10:01 +0000 Mon, 22 Nov 2021 05:34:44 +0000 false false false

Rockstar Games has officially apologized for the sorry state of its Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition and made older versions of the game available again.

The company posted a statement on its site on November 19 to "provide an update regarding the unexpected technical issues that came to light as part of the launch of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition."

"Firstly, we want to sincerely apologize to everyone who has encountered issues playing these games," the statement read.

"The updated versions of these classic games did not launch in a state that meets our own standards of quality, or the standards our fans have come to expect."

As a result, Rockstar will be returning the classic PC versions of the three games to the Rockstar Store in the near future.

"We will be adding the classic PC versions of Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas back to the Rockstar Store shortly as a bundle," the company stated. "Additionally, everyone who has purchased Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for PC from the Rockstar Store through June 30, 2022, will receive these classic versions in their Rockstar Games Launcher library at no additional cost. We will update everyone as soon as these are back in the Rockstar Store."

"Once again, we'd like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we work through these updates to ensure these games meet everyone's justifiably high standards."

The company also called on fans to stop harassing the developers of the GTA Trilogy remaster online: "it pains us to mention that we are hearing reports of members of the development teams being harassed on social media. We would kindly ask our community to please maintain a respectful and civil discourse around this release as we work through these issues."


Analysis: can Rockstar clean up this mess in time?

One of the biggest problems for Rockstar about the remastered GTA Trilogy is that it generally doesn't have these kinds of problems.

There are a lot of criticisms that can be launched at Rockstar Games, like its notoriously rough Crunch culture, but putting out sub-standard products isn't one of them.

For better or worse, Rockstar products like Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 land with a level of polish usually reserved for Marvel Movies, and while every game has bugs, you don't get game-wrecking bugs or the kind of quality issues we got in the GTA Trilogy remasters.

And as Rockstar Games itself notes, these are the games that really made the company into the powerhouse it is, so to have these treated so shabbily could threaten to become a real stain on the company with its fanbase.

Bundling the original PC games as a replacement is a start, we guess. These aren't remasters though, and the fact that even Rockstar Games admits the GTA Trilogy remasters aren't up to Rockstar's own quality standards means that Rockstar and Grove Street Studios need to fix the actual remasters if they hope to mollify fans' disappoint and keep this release from being a drag on the company's reputation in the long term.

  • Check out the best PC games while you wait for the rerelease of the classic GTA titles
]]> <![CDATA[ One scene in GTA Trilogy remaster trailer actually looks worse than the original game ]]> https://www.techradar.com/news/one-scene-in-gta-trilogy-remaster-trailer-actually-looks-worse-than-the-original-game yNSBF3PWJ4qrJ2KcNNbMBN Fri, 22 Oct 2021 16:00:42 +0000 Fri, 22 Oct 2021 16:13:28 +0000 false false false

Look, the GTA Trilogy remaster trailer looks great. It appears Rockstar has really taken its refresh of GTA 3, GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas seriously, with improved detail, lighting, colors, weather and additional items and decorations added to scenes throughout the games.

The inside of CJ's house now looks more like a home where people eat, sleep and put their own personal stamp on, while the Miami-like beachfront street in Vice City looks even more vibrant and 80s - we also love the art style choice from Rockstar and its partner studio Grove Street Games, as it's avoided hyper-realism and kept some of the cartoony flair of the original games. 

It seems like it will be a great way to pass the time while we wait for GTA 6, so it's all sounding positive then, right? WRONG. There is one particular scene which actually looks worse in the four seconds or so it appears on screen.

Sin City

The scene in question appears 24 seconds into the new GTA Trilogy trailer and shows a street lined with neon-clad casinos not all that different to real-world Las Vegas.

It's from GTA San Andreas and the Las Venturas area of its sprawling map, giving us a view down a street. As the trailer transitions from the original game to the remaster, a car drives towards you.

What jumps out though, unlike any of the other transitions in the trailer, is the original actually looks better than the remaster at first glance.

Casino strip in GTA Trilogy
The original San Andreas games...Rockstar Games
Casino strip in GTA Trilogy
...and the remasterRockstar Games

It's also the only brightly-colored night scene that features in the trailer, with another clip showing a neon-clad, Ocean Drive, Miami-like street in Vice City captured during daylight hours in the game.

This leaves me wondering how scenes like this will look when the game time reaches night - are we going to see similar hazy visuals and slightly awkward lighting? 

This is subjective to the eye of the beholder and if you look at the reflections of the casino lights on the car's paintwork as it zips past the camera you can tell the remaster does handle certain elements better than the original. 

This is also just a short trailer uploaded to Twitter - the game is yet to reach the hands of anyone to experience on their big TVs or high-resolution PC monitors. 

There's a way to go then, but this is a curious quirk in a trailer that otherwise hits all the right marks. Something just feels a bit off.

You can view the GTA Trilogy trailer below

Analysis: why does it look worse?

Gerald Lynch, Executive Editor at TechRadar, offers some insight:

Whereas the majority of the trailer looks like a superb upgrade, as I'd said in my earlier piece, I agree that the casino strip scene looks odd. 

Here's the one moment where melding the old style with the newer technologies available is actually detrimental, in my opinion. 

The original game had to hide its graphical limitations, especially in terms of lighting. But as we all know, the flashy lights of a Las Vegas-like scene in the real world is what makes such a location so glamorous and enticing. 

In the original, the developers get around this with charm – here are riffs on iconic Vegas neon signs, drawn in exaggerated fashion to draw the eye. 

But when the new games' enhanced lighting effects are added to the mix, their admittedly-more-realistic glow actually acts to weaken the overall scene. 

The quality of the underlying designs is washed out by the halo of lighting effects being added. You lose some of the illustrative contrast of the sign featuring a lady, as the neon-elements soften its originally-bold, pop-art-like silhouette.

For the most part, I think what we've seen of the remastered trilogy's visuals does a fantastic job of walking the line between original artistic intent and the positive possibilities of applying newer visual technologies to a scene. 

But this shot proves that just throwing new tech at a classic title isn't always a silver bullet for enhancing something, and that even the most exciting of new technologies, be that ray traced reflections or high resolution textures, have to be applied with a careful eye towards environmental dressing and location design, too.

]]> <![CDATA[ How to bring Undead Nightmare to Red Dead Redemption 2… sort of ]]> https://www.techradar.com/news/how-to-bring-undead-nightmare-to-red-dead-redemption-2-sort-of McRYsLeAgsVxqBQjrB9Nz Fri, 08 Oct 2021 13:42:09 +0000 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:59:50 +0000 false false false

The iconic Undead Nightmare DLC for the first Red Dead Redemption is coming to Red Dead Redemption 2... thanks to unofficial mods.

Modders RedMaxBR and AClassySliceOfToast have released several mods on NexusMods that aim to bring the spooky aesthetics of Undead Nightmare to Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC – just in time for Halloween.

Undead Towns brings the scenery of Undead Nightmare to the towns and villages of Red Dead Redemption 2, Undead Nightmare Camps litters the map with sinister settlements like those seen in the original DLC, while Undead Blackwater will transform the town of Blackwater into a safe zone.

These mods, unfortunately, don’t give you the full Undead Nightmare experience. Zombie hordes won’t be roaming around the wilderness waiting to attack you, and the quests and missions from the original DLC are not included either.

However, the modders have recommended using Rampage Trainer, which will give the weather a spookier feel, and it’ll also add the Undead Nightmare Soundtrack into the game.

Opinion: We just want Rockstar to start making single-player DLC again

Rockstar surprised Red Dead Redemption owners back in 2010 by imagining what would happen if a zombie outbreak happened in the Wild West world of Red Dead Redemption.  

Undead Nightmare was a fantastic bit of DLC that received rave reviews from critics and fans alike. And this wasn’t Rockstar’s first rodeo making great single-player DLC – for GTA IV, it released The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. These expanded and gave further depth to the GTA IV universe. 

But since Undead Nightmare, we haven't seen Rockstar release another single-player DLC. That means Rockstar hasn't made single-player DLC for its more recent games GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, while ignoring the outcry from fans wanting more single-player content and leaving them to make do with creating their own fun with Red Dead Redemption 2 cheats.

Instead, Rockstar has focused on making free multiplayer DLCs for its GTA Online and Red Dead Online services, which have generated huge financial income –via microtransactions – for Rockstar and its parent company Take-Two Interactive.

Although these multiplayer DLCs do provide good content for players, they’re not always as expansive or story-driven as single-player content. And, seeing how rich the story of Red Dead Redemption 2 was, there are a multitude of deeper tales to be told about the Red Dead Redemption universe that fans would love to see. Like, how did Javier Escuella end up in Mexico working as a hitman after the events of Red Dead Redemption 2? We need answers, Rockstar!

All in all, we're thankful that modders are trying to fill a void that Rockstar has left in its games. Be warned, however, that Rockstar and its publisher Take-Two interactive doesn’t always take kindly to those wishing to mod its games, and can sometimes ban players who do. Tread carefully if you’re looking to install this one.

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