_ before GTA 6
Written By Kayley Kwok
Woah, we got the Breakout International GTA article before GTA VI.
Perhaps you’ve seen this phrase appearing in the comments of reels, YouTube shorts, and even videos.
Morphing humour, waves of trends, and the ever-temporary and intangible landscape of social media have given us users a new smack on the face. With a tsunami of comments all following the “..before GTA 6” phenomenon- Instagram, TikTok, Youtube… If you can name it, you will see it. The attention of millions, all captured to a trend fueled by the unceasing delay of Rockstar’s highly awaited sequel to the GTA game series, Grand Theft Auto VI. What was originally thought of as an expression of frustration towards the company’s tardiness, has now been sparked into a humorous comment under almost every unexpected post, with unplanned publicity for the game developer.
“GTA 6 will sell (for) “10+ years” since there’s “no competition”, meaning that Rockstar is “not going to release the game until they’re 100% happy”.” Says company senior director Obbe Vermeij. This excuse may sound reasonable, but it certainly does not dissipate the mounting impatience among faithful fans for the game. Renowned for its painstaking approach to game production, Rockstar Games has been pushing deadlines, having released GTA 4 four months before the planned release date. So how did Rockstar Games build such an avid fan base? How did GTA become a name almost all fellow Gen Zs and even Millennials recognise?
Genesis of Grand Theft Auto
A tale as unpredictable as the open-world madness it would go on to inspire, the “uprising” of GTA was built during the mid-90s, when the gaming industry was still finding its feet in the 3D space, with developers experimenting like mad scientists trying to create experiences that felt alive and unshackled. Enter DMA Design, a small Scottish development studio that, at the time, was best known for the quirky puzzle game Lemmings. No one would have guessed that this little team, tucked away in the rainy streets of Dundee, would soon create a cultural juggernaut- originally titled Race ‘N’ Chase, was conceived as a cops-and-robbers game, where players could choose to uphold the law or embrace chaos.
Of course, any ambitious goal would come with a messy process. Bugs and glitches plagued development, and at one point, the AI controlling the police cars went completely rogue. Instead of scrapping the feature, the developers leaned into it, setting the tone for the series’ future: chaos wasn’t just a byproduct—it was the goal. The first Grand Theft Auto released in 1997 was a top-down, 2D crime simulator that handed players a simple objective: climb the criminal ladder by any means necessary. And while its graphics and gameplay might seem primitive by today’s standards, the game’s rebellious heart struck a chord with audiences—shocking, edgy, and completely unlike anything else on the market.
But where did the audacity come from? The spirit of GTA can be traced back to its creators’ love for subversion. David Jones, the founder of DMA Design and the mastermind behind Lemmings, had a knack for stripping away conventions and poking fun at authority. Combined with the creative chaos of developers like Mike Dailly and the publishing muscle of BMG Interactive (later Rockstar Games), GTA became the perfect storm of satire, rebellion, and unfiltered fun.
As the game gained notoriety, so too did its controversies. Parents and politicians alike were quick to condemn its unapologetic embrace of violence and criminal behavior, but this only fueled its allure. In a way, GTA thrived off the chaos it created in-game and society. It wasn’t just a game about breaking the rules, it was a game that broke the rules of what video games were allowed to be.
Later, DMA Design would eventually rebrand as Rockstar Games, and with the release of GTA III in 2001, the series would explode into the cultural phenomenon we know today. The series gained prominence with GTA III on October 23, 2001, and continued with GTA: Vice City (October 29, 2002) and GTA: San Andreas (October 26, 2004). GTA IV was released on April 29, 2008, and the highly acclaimed GTA V followed on September 17, 2013. With spin-offs from the franchise: GTA: Liberty City Stories (October 25, 2005), GTA: Vice City Stories (October 31, 2006), and GTA: Chinatown Wars (March 17, 2009). The next instalment, GTA VI, is anticipated for release in Fall 2025.
The Breeding Ground of Trends
Social media has always been a playground for the absurd—a breeding ground where the most random ideas evolve into full-blown trends before anyone has time to ask, “Wait, why is this funny?” It’s chaotic, unpredictable, and oddly brilliant. The “…before GTA 6” meme is a textbook case. Fueled by collective impatience, it has spiralled far beyond its origins, popping up under clips of anything from goats skateboarding to bizarre cooking hacks gone wrong. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube thrive on this randomness, turning fleeting frustrations or inside jokes into viral sensations practically overnight.
As we wait (and meme) our way to the eventual release of GTA VI, trends like “…before GTA 6” remind us of how humor, frustration, and collective creativity come together to shape internet culture. The meme’s runaway success isn’t just a commentary on the gaming industry’s long timelines, but also a testament to the power of social media as a cultural amplifier. From poking fun at delays to becoming a phenomenon in its own right, this trend highlights how even the smallest sparks—like a joke about waiting—can ignite a wildfire of global participation. Just like the chaotic, unbridled spirit of GTA itself, the meme mirrors a generation’s ability to turn impatience into entertainment and frustration into fun.
One thing’s for sure: when GTA VI does drop, it will arrive with a legacy that started long before the game even launched.