Grand Theft Auto 6 is sure to be on Rockstar's schedule at some point in the future, regardless of how far into development it actually is at the time of this writing. The Grand Theft Auto series is one of the most critically acclaimed and lucrative IP's in the entire gaming industry, with Grand Theft Auto 5 currently sitting cozily as the second top-selling game of all time. Even with the next-gen upgrade for Grand Theft Auto 5 on the way this fall, fans eyes are truly set on the next proper mainline release.

Knowing the release gaps between Rockstar projects, Grand Theft Auto 6 is still likely to be years away, however little tidbits and rumors always seem to find their way onto the internet. Recently, an alleged leak for the Grand Theft Auto 6 map made its way online, detailing the overall size of the game world as well as other information regarding its geographical landscape and layout. While an intriguing image to ponder over, it is highly unlikely that this leaked map is actually the real deal when all is said and done.

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First and foremost, Rockstar is a studio that likes to play things pretty close to the chest when it comes to game development. The last game in the franchise, Grand Theft Auto 5, was shrouded in mystery for the years leading up to its launch, even after it was confirmed to be in active production. Aside from a couple of trailers, details were tight regarding story specifics and the full list of gameplay features to be present in the final game. While infuriating for fans anxiously awaiting the game, this was a positive thing in the end, as the many misadventures that Michael, Franklin and Trevor get into were a wonderful surprise for players.

The same can be said for the development of Red Dead Redemption 2, which after a reveal trailer in late 2016, went mostly radio silent until the final months leading up to its October 2018 launch. All of this is to say that Rockstar is very protective and caring of its IPs, wanting the best treatment and utmost secrecy to be kept surrounding its video game projects.

A notable example is how Red Dead Redemption 2's map was leaked online just days before release, an event which immediately prompted action from the company. Rockstar requested that all publication sites remove the map, wanting to preserve the world of the game a secret until it was made officially available. Considering this happened immediately, and the alleged Grand Theft Auto 6 map has been on the internet for quite some time now, already casts doubt on its legitimacy.

Due to the caution that Rockstar places on every one of its products and its lack of interest in this recent leak is already enough to debunk the rumored map. However, alongside the notion that nearly anyone can craft a convincing Photoshop design, there are more factors at play working against this leak. The Grand Theft Auto series is no stranger to rumors over the years that were eventually false, with Grand Theft Auto 5 in particular experiencing a heavy helping of its own leading up to launch.

Grand Theft Auto 6 has yet to even be officially confirmed by Rockstar, and yet that hasn't stopped theories and rumors from already making the rounds. The level of hype this franchise can generate (without even doing anything) is astounding. Grand Theft Auto 5 had inaccurate leaks posted online well before it even hit store shelves in 2013. Dating even further back to the earlier days of the franchise, maps for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto 4 were also a point of curiosity for both fans and gaming journalists alike. Maps were posted several times for many of the games in the series, with all of them ultimately turning out to be fake.

To return to the topic at hand, this isn't even the first time that Grand Theft Auto 6 has experienced a fake map posted online. Back in October 2020, an image of the game world in Grand Theft Auto 6 was uploaded, claiming to be the real thing. Of course, it did not take that long for this image to be analyzed, with the Grand Theft Auto 6 rumored map being debunked by people online.

Naturally, being excited is perfectly normal and speculation can be a fun past time while waiting for the latest news on the hottest upcoming games. However, there comes a time, when it is important to take a step back and not let hype take control over reason. This will likely not be the last time a supposed leak for Grand Theft Auto 6 starts to make the rounds online, so it is important to do some research and take each "leak" with a grain of salt until Rockstar officially makes a statement on its own.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is rumored to be in development.

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