Waiting for GTA 6? 'Grand Taking Ages' offers comic relief

Video game development often involves delays and long waits for new games. Fans excitedly waiting for big games find themselves stuck in a loop of guessing and being let down. Violarte, a game studio, decided to have fun with this idea through Grand Taking Ages. This funny simulation game shows what it's like to handle a game development studio. Releasing in July 2025, Grand Taking Ages gives a lighthearted look at the industry and offers a fun gaming experience.

Parodying game development challenges

Grand Taking Ages lets you run a fictional game development studio, starting small in a basic workspace. You'll face challenges like dealing with annoyed fans, meeting tight deadlines, and overcoming creative blocks. The game humorously invites you to "battle angry fans, avoid pushy journalists, and master the art of 'creative' deadlines," all while keeping your studio running on pizza and energy drinks.

This game takes inspiration from real industry trends and the long wait for big titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). With a fun, self-aware twist, Grand Taking Ages highlights the struggles developers face and the high expectations from outspoken gamers. Violarte promotes the game with the tagline "Coming Soon Since Forever!"—a fun poke at jokes about game release delays.

Beyond being a GTA 6 parody, Grand Taking Ages comments on the gaming industry as a whole. It shows the challenges of managing resources, dealing with public attention, and the stress of creating a successful game in a tough market. It's a lighthearted reminder of the hard work behind the games you love.

Overcoming hurdles to hit Steam

Before its release on Steam, Grand Taking Ages had some big challenges. It was first listed on the PlayStation Store as Grand Taking Ages VI, and it looked a lot like GTA 6. Because of this, Sony took it down due to concerns over copyrights. To fix this, Violarte made some major changes. They removed "VI" from the title, changed the logo, and updated the game’s descriptions so it wouldn't be confused with the Rockstar game.

When moving to Steam, Violarte took extra care. Steam is generally more forgiving than Sony but now has stricter rules for using AI-made assets. Knowing this, Violarte talked to Valve early on to ensure they followed all rules. This effort paid off, as Valve allowed the game on Steam. Violarte’s team said that talking with Valve was key to making sure their game matched what Valve wanted.

The game uses AI in its trailers and ads, which include AI-created art and voices. While this fits the game's humorous tone, it has also started a conversation. Some people question whether AI content is truly creative, while others think it cleverly highlights the tech trends in gaming. This adds another interesting angle to Grand Taking Ages, showing how it reflects on industry practices.

Anticipation and community reception

Since it was announced, Grand Taking Ages has caught a lot of attention from gamers. Reactions range from excited support to cautious skepticism. Many fans love the game’s funny take on long waits for big game releases, enjoying its playful jokes about companies like Rockstar. The new trailer on the game’s Steam page is also popular, featuring humor and a funny look at the challenges small studios face. For example, the trailer humorously mentions starting in "mom’s garage" and trying to grow your business into "a slightly better garage."

However, the game’s use of AI-generated content and the fact that its creators are not well-known have made some people question its legitimacy. Some critics doubt the studio's qualifications and the overall quality of the game. These worries reflect broader discussions in the gaming world about new technologies like AI and the need for transparency in development.

Despite mixed reactions, Violarte is hopeful about the future of Grand Taking Ages. The developers have asked for the game to return to the PlayStation Store, showcasing changes made for Steam as proof of its potential. Though Sony hasn’t responded yet, Violarte believes their revised approach will meet the platform’s standards. This confidence shows their commitment to the game's success on multiple platforms.