Grand Theft Auto VI: the road to launch
Hello, dear readers!
It is hard to believe that we are just 15 days away from the release of Grand Theft Auto VI. After years of waiting, speculation, two official trailers, an extended presentation and finally a launch trailer, Rockstar Games is almost ready to welcome us back to Vice City.
I have been following the Grand Theft Auto series since the 1990s, and before losing my sight, I played all the games released over the years. From the original Grand Theft Auto to GTA V, this franchise has been a significant part of my gaming life. However, GTA VI will be a very different experience for me because, unless Rockstar has prepared some surprises when it comes to accessibility, this will be the first Grand Theft Auto game that I will not be able to play by myself. But let’s take a moment to look back at how we got here.
The beginning: February 2022 and December 2023
On February 4, 2022, Rockstar Games confirmed that active development of the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series was well underway. At the time, the studio did not reveal the game’s name, setting, characters or release date, but it was the first official confirmation that a new installment was in development.
Almost two years later, on December 4, 2023, Rockstar finally revealed Grand Theft Auto VI to the world, releasing its first official trailer and confirming that the game would take us to the fictional state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond.
Rockstar described it as the biggest and most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet. The official game description introduces us to Jason and Lucia, two people who have always known that the odds are stacked against them. When an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves caught in a criminal conspiracy stretching across Leonida, forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
Trailer 1: December 4, 2023
The first trailer was our introduction to the new world Rockstar had been creating. Accompanied by Tom Petty’s Love is a Long Road, it presented Vice City and its surroundings, with beaches, nightlife, crowded streets, unusual characters, police encounters and plenty of situations that looked straight out of Florida.
We also got our first introduction to Lucia, who appeared in several scenes, including an opening sequence in a prison. The trailer showed a world where social media, viral videos and everyday moments are part of the overall experience, while giving us a glimpse of the scale and visual detail of the new game.
It was a short presentation, but it gave us plenty to talk about while leaving many questions unanswered.
Watch the first official trailer on YouTube:
Trailer 2: May 6, 2025
On May 6, 2025, Rockstar released the second trailer, giving us considerably more information about the characters and the story.
This time, we were introduced properly to Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, learning more about their relationship and the circumstances surrounding their criminal activities. The trailer showed the two protagonists together in different situations, offering a better understanding of the partnership at the centre of the story.
Rockstar also provided additional information about several characters and locations, while giving us more glimpses of the state of Leonida and the activities that will be available throughout the game. Set to Hot Together by The Pointer Sisters, the second trailer was captured entirely in-game on PlayStation 5 and consisted of an equal combination of gameplay and cutscenes, according to Rockstar.
Watch the second official trailer on YouTube:
An Extended Look: August 27, 2026
On August 27, 2026, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, a presentation lasting 26 minutes and 48 seconds.
The presentation premiered on Netflix before becoming available on Rockstar’s official YouTube channel and the Grand Theft Auto VI website later that day. This was different from the previous trailers because it gave us considerably more time to explore the world through extended sequences captured entirely from in-game footage on PlayStation 5.
We were able to see more of Jason and Lucia, the people around them, the different locations across Leonida and various activities. It offered a much more extensive look at the game’s presentation and the world Rockstar has created. This was the most substantial official presentation so far.
Watch Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look on YouTube:
The Launch Trailer: October 15, 2026
And then, on October 15, Rockstar released the official launch trailer! By this point, we already knew quite a bit about Jason, Lucia and the world they inhabit, but the latest trailer gave us another opportunity to appreciate the characters, locations and atmosphere that will define this new instalment.
The trailer also featured Flower in a Hurricane, a new single from Justice, the electronic duo responsible for the game’s original score, featuring Tame Impala, SZA and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
With the launch trailer now available, all that remains is to wait for November 19.
Watch the official launch trailer on YouTube:
Accessibility: a question that remains unanswered
There is one subject I cannot leave out of this article, and that is accessibility. As I mentioned at the beginning, I have played every Grand Theft Auto game since the 1990s. These games have accompanied me through different stages of my life, and I would really love to experience this new installment as well.
However, being totally blind means that I cannot pick up a controller and start exploring a visually driven open world without the necessary accessibility features. I am hoping that Rockstar has considered blind gamers during development and that we might find features such as text-to-speech, audio descriptions, navigation assistance and other accessibility options that could make the experience possible for people like myself.
Unfortunately, with just 15 days remaining before release, there has been no official announcement from Rockstar about accessibility options for blind players. I have been following the game’s development and promotional campaign, and I would have really appreciated some information from the developers on this subject.
I know that creating accessibility options for a game of this scale is not a simple undertaking. Nevertheless, we have seen what other developers have achieved, and I believe that blind gamers should also have the opportunity to experience some of the biggest releases in the industry.
I would love to explore Vice City, follow Jason and Lucia’s story, discover the different locations and enjoy everything Rockstar has created without additional help.
Of course, if accessibility options are not included, that will not change how I feel about the arrival of Grand Theft Auto VI. I will still be happy to see another chapter in a franchise that has been part of my life for so many years.
November 19: almost time to return to Vice City
We have followed this journey for years, watched the trailers, discussed the characters and learned more about the world Rockstar has been creating. Now, the wait is almost over. I am very excited about Grand Theft Auto VI, and I cannot wait to see what Rockstar has prepared for us. There is something special about seeing a franchise you have followed for decades receive a new installment, especially one that has generated so much anticipation.
Will I be able to play it myself? I honestly don’t know. Perhaps Rockstar has a surprise waiting for us, and I certainly hope that blind gamers have not been forgotten.
Until then, I will be counting down the days alongside everyone else. Regardless of whether I can play it, I am happy that Grand Theft Auto VI is finally arriving.
See you in Vice City!
Victor Dima
