What ‘Other Things’ Rockstar Could Be Working on Besides GTA 6

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6 is shaping up to be one of the biggest video games of all time—a level of anticipation and prestige that mirrors the developer’s last several games. But, while it may not always seem like it, Rockstar does, in fact, have other IP to develop beyond Grand Theft Auto. GTA 6 is just the company’s top priority at the moment.

This fundamental facet of the developer’s operation was highlighted in a recent GameSpot interview with Strauss Zelnick, head of Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive. After noting the possibility of another GTA 6 delay, Zelnick said that “Rockstar does have a lot of other things going on, but [GTA 6] is of course the primary focus.” This would suggest that the gaming giant has several projects in development alongside GTA 6, which, admittedly, is a little surprising. But before Bully and L.A. Noire fans get too excited, it’s worth considering what exactly these “other things” are likely to be, and what they likely are not.

What Is Rockstar Working On Other Than GTA 6?

The Likely Culprits: What Rockstar Is Confirmed or Rumored To Be Developing

First things first: Rockstar is working alongside Remedy Entertainment on the Max Payne 1 and Max Payne 2 remakes—that much has been confirmed. Remedy doubled down on this collaboration during its most recent financial report, stating that it is “working closely” with the GTA creator. Obviously, this isn’t a very exciting revelation, as the Max Payne remakes have been common knowledge for years now, but it’s still nice to know that Remedy and Rockstar are going hand-in-hand in this endeavor, as it could lead to an interesting confluence of ideas.

Beyond those projects, long-time Rockstar leaker Tez2 revealed back in May that a remaster of Grand Theft Auto 4 is in the works, which would finally bring the classic game to modern consoles. Tez2 said that this game “might” come out before the end of 2025. Considering how beloved GTA 4 is, and how many gamers would rush to shell out $50 or more for a version of it on PS5 or Xbox Series devices, this seems plausible. But just like with all leaks, this information should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Along those same lines are the claims of YouTuber Nate the Hate, who recently claimed that Red Dead Redemption 2 would be getting a long-overdue current-gen upgrade, alongside a port to the Nintendo Switch 2. Again, some salt is recommended, although these prospects also don’t seem outlandish.

Pipe Dreams: What Else Rockstar Could Be Working On

Current-gen versions of GTA 4 and Red Dead Redemption 2 would be nice, but those aren’t what the old-school Rockstar fans truly want. Audiences have been begging the studio to return to its older franchises, like Bully, L.A. Noire, and even Max Payne—anything but more Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto. These IPs have been Rockstar’s sole focus for over a decade now, so perhaps it will change tack in the wake of GTA 6. Indeed, Rockstar may wish to diversify its portfolio, as it were, lest it put all its eggs in just one or two baskets.

This is the realm of complete speculation, but maybe Max Payne would be the likeliest candidate for a revival by Rockstar. Max Payne 3, though disappointing for some long-time fans, has held up remarkably well and proves that Rockstar understands the character and his franchise’s cinematic flair. If the Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes are successful, then a proper Max Payne 4 wouldn’t seem like such a bad idea.