'GTA VI' release date rumors: Next 'GTA' installment not expected until 2018; Rockstar Games still focused on 'GTA V?'

It has long been rumored that the next installment in the highly successful "Grand Theft Auto" franchise will arrive in a few years to come. Therefore, 2016 might just be the best timing for Rockstar Games to announce "Grand Theft Auto VI." The latest title in the video game series, "Grand Theft Auto V," was released three years ago, and the fans believe that it is probably high time for the game developer company to refresh the franchise with a new sequel.

Those who attended Sony's huge event last September 7, PlayStation Meeting 2016, were expecting that Rockstar Games would unveil the details about the much-awaited "GTA VI." Unfortunately, the event made no mention of the future plans for the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise. Not even Rockstar Games itself made its presence felt during the PlayStation Meeting, thus the public need to wait for another indefinite period to hear Rockstar's plans about "GTA VI." The absence of "GTA VI" in the PlayStation Meeting could mean that there are no solid plans at the moment to create a new "Grand Theft Auto" installment. Even at last June's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2016, no information was shared regarding "GTA VI," according to Vine Report.

Still, in spite of the lack of information and confirmed reports from Rockstar about the next "Grand Theft Auto" game title, there is still hope that "GTA VI" will arrive someday. However, the fans cannot expect the new installment to be released as early as next year. If anything, the next "GTA" installment is not expected to arrive until 2018, iTech Post reported.

To note, there is usually a five-year gap in between the releases of "Grand Theft Auto" titles. Following this pattern, the sixth "Grand Theft Auto" installment may be released in 2018 at the very least, as "GTA V" was released in September 2013. However, there are other reports that the public can expect "GTA VI" to be finished around 2020.

One of the possible reasons behind "GTA VI" being released much later than everyone else's guess is because Rockstar Games is still focused on the current installment in the franchise. Earlier this year, Rockstar has released several DLC packs for "GTA V," especially on its online multiplayer mode. The latest content pack for the game is called the "Biker" DLC, and it is rumored that more new contents will be released in the coming months. Also, Rockstar is about the release the special remastered edition of "GTA V," which the fans can check out in the meantime before "GTA VI" becomes officially revealed.