JARRETT GOODMAN Contributor

After years of growing anticipation, speculation, and several delays, Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) is set to officially release worldwide next week on Thursday, Nov. 19.

Being in active development for eight years since 2018, GTA 6 is to release across both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles, with a PC version of the game set to be released at a later date. The game will take place in Leonida, a fictionalized version of Florida that will also feature the series’ wellknown fictional city of Vice City, a locale previously featured in 2002’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The game’s story centers on two new protagonists, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, a Bonnie-and-Clyde-inspired duo in which players will have the option to switch between and play as during the game’s main story, taking them across Leonida and Vice City in a plot that will center on a score gone wrong that leaves the couple tangled within a network of crime and conspiracy throughout.

In addition, Rockstar Games will be releasing two albums that tie in to the game. The first album, “Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album,” will feature a collection of songs that will play throughout the game via the radio stations. Artists announced for the album include Morgan Wallen, Travis Scott, Cardi B and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. The album will be released a day after GTA 6’s release on Friday, Nov. 20. The second album, “Grand Theft Auto VI: Original Score,” is the original score of the game, composed by French electronic duo Justice. The first single, “Flower in a Hurricane,” features artists SZA, Tame Impala and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. The album will be released on Dec. 11.

The last Grand Theft Auto title to be released was Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5), which was released in September 2013 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, eventually being re-released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PlayStation 5.

GTA 5 is considered the second-highest-selling video game of all time, selling over 230 million copies worldwide as of this year and generating nearly $10 billion in revenue for Rockstar Games. A major contributor to its global success was Grand Theft Auto Online, a separate online multiplayer mode that received numerous major updates, which added new content for gamers to experience, adding to the game’s overall longevity and further generating revenue for the studio. However, GTA 6 is projected to surpass the previous title upon release, with the game already earning over $750 million in pre-order sales globally.

Despite high anticipation for the game’s inevitable release, GTA 6 has also stirred up controversy within the gaming industry, the biggest being its digital-only release. Back in June, Rockstar announced that the game will be released only in digital format, with all physical boxes of the game featuring only a redeem code for players to type in rather than a traditional Blu-ray disc. Following the announcement, Sony also announced that, beginning in 2028, the company will no longer produce physical discs for future PlayStation titles, a decision which sparked major backlash from many PlayStation owners, including those who purchase only physical copies of their games. In addition, GTA 6 stirred up controversy with its price tag, as the cost was either $79.99 for the standard edition, which comes with the base game, and $99 for the Ultimate Edition, which comes with the base game, additional campaign content, exclusive vehicles, weapons, customization options, and access to exclusive in-game shops.

Despite the controversy, the hype surrounding the next mainline entry within the Grand Theft Auto series continues to grow as the release date draws near. Starting Nov. 12, customers can order “physical” copies of GTA 6, which comes with the game case and download code for the game. Additionally, eligible Spectrum Internet customers will receive a free Gig Speed Lift from Nov. 9 to Nov. 30, providing customers with a high-speed edge in downloads in preparation for one of the largest and most hotly anticipated video game launches in history.

Artwork courtesy of Rockstar Games. Kyle Murphy contributed to this story.