Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat. I’m not against GTA 6 coming out. I’m not one of those people who wants to see a game fail just because I’m not interested in playing it. That’s some early-2000s gaming nonsense, when every time a new GTA game came out, we had a bunch of GTA clones trying to get a piece of the action.
NARC, State of Emergency… anybody remember those games? LMAO.
But here’s the funny thing. GTA 6 is coming out on my birthday, November 19, and I’ll be turning 40 years old. And honestly? I’m not interested in the slightest.
Now, before somebody comes running into the comments ready to fight me, hear me out.
GTA 6 Is a Big Deal… Just Not to Me
It’s been a long time coming. We’re talking about roughly 25 years since Grand Theft Auto III helped change the gaming landscape, and now we’re finally getting GTA 6.
There’s no doubt in my mind that this game is going to sell like crazy. Rockstar knows how to create an event out of a video game release, and GTA 6 is probably going to be one of the biggest launches we’ve ever seen.
People have waited years for this game. They’ve watched the trailers, picked apart every little detail, and spent countless hours talking about what Rockstar might have planned.
And that’s cool. Seriously, if you’re excited about GTA 6, I’m happy for you.
But me?
I’ve already put countless hours into GTA 5. I still jump into it from time to time, especially when I’m playing with my wife. We’ve had our fun with it, and I can’t deny that Rockstar created something special with GTA Online.
But after spending so much time in that world, I think I’ve reached the point where I’m ready for something different.
It’s not that GTA is bad. It’s that my gaming tastes have changed.
And honestly, I think Red Dead Redemption 2 has something to do with that.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Changed the Game for Me
Let me tell you something. I fell head over heels for Red Dead Redemption 2.
The world, the characters, the story, the atmosphere… Rockstar created a game that made me want to slow down and enjoy being in its world.
You could spend time riding around, exploring little corners of the map, stumbling across random encounters, hunting, fishing, or just enjoying the scenery. You didn’t always have to be rushing toward the next mission or blowing something up.
And then there’s the story.
Arthur Morgan’s journey is one of those gaming experiences that sticks with you long after the credits roll. The characters feel like people with their own lives, problems, and motivations. The world feels like it existed before you showed up and will keep going after you leave.
That’s the kind of experience I love.
Now, don’t get me wrong. GTA 5 has a great world, plenty of things to do, and a whole lot of personality. I’ve enjoyed it for years.
But Red Dead Redemption 2 hit differently.
It made me appreciate what Rockstar can do when it takes its time building a world and telling a story. And after experiencing that, going back to the GTA formula just doesn’t excite me the way it once did.
Maybe that’s just me getting older. Maybe I’ve played enough GTA to know what I’m getting into.
Whatever the reason, I’m not sitting here counting down the days until GTA 6 releases.
GTA Online Had Me Hooked… Until It Didn’t
Now here’s where things get a little frustrating.
I spent years playing GTA Online. For a long time, there was always something to do, something to buy, another mission to complete, or another reason to jump back in.
But after four and a half years, I was tired of it.
Not because GTA Online was necessarily a bad experience, but because I had reached my limit. I had spent enough time doing the same kinds of activities and chasing the next thing.
Eventually, I needed a break.
And that’s where Red Dead Online comes into the conversation.
Because here’s the thing: I never got tired of Red Dead Redemption 2 the way I got tired of GTA Online.
Even just riding around in Red Dead’s world could be entertaining. There was something about the atmosphere, the slower pace, and the way the world felt that kept drawing me back in.
That’s why it frustrates me that Red Dead Online never seemed to receive the same long-term commitment that GTA Online did.
I’m not saying Rockstar should have abandoned GTA. Obviously, GTA Online has been a massive business success, and there’s a reason the company continued supporting it.
But I can’t help thinking about what Red Dead Online could have become if it had received more substantial updates and long-term attention.
Imagine more story missions, new roles, meaningful activities, and bigger updates that gave players a reason to keep coming back.
Imagine Rockstar giving that world the same kind of ongoing attention it gave GTA Online.
Man, what could have been?
Rockstar Dropped the Ball on Red Dead Online
This is the part that really gets me.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is such a masterpiece, yet Red Dead Online never seemed to reach its full potential.
There was so much room to expand that world. The setting was beautiful, the foundation was already there, and players had plenty of reasons to get invested.
But the support never seemed to match what the game could have become.
Meanwhile, GTA Online continued receiving major updates and new content over the years.
From a business perspective, I understand why Rockstar would prioritize the game that was bringing in the biggest audience and the most money. Companies have to make business decisions.
But as a gamer who loved Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s still disappointing.
I wanted more from that world. I wanted to see what Rockstar could do with it over the long haul.
Instead, it feels like we were left wondering what might have happened if the game had received more attention.
And that hurts because I genuinely believe Red Dead Redemption 2 deserved better.
Can We Please Get Red Dead Redemption 2 Running at 60 FPS?
And while we’re talking about Red Dead Redemption 2, can we talk about a proper 60 FPS update?
There was a time when talk about a potential 60 FPS upgrade had people hoping Rockstar would give the game a new lease on life for current consoles.
And let me tell you, that would be chef’s kiss.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is already gorgeous. The lighting, landscapes, character animations, and attention to detail still make it a game worth revisiting.
Now imagine getting that same experience with a smoother 60 FPS presentation on consoles.
I’d be happy to ride back into that world all over again.
But here we are, still waiting for Rockstar to make it happen.
Now, I’m not a game developer, and I don’t pretend to know everything that goes into making an update like that happen. I don’t know what technical challenges Rockstar might have to deal with or what its plans are behind the scenes.
And I certainly don’t want to be a game developer myself. LMAO.
All I can do is wait and hope Rockstar eventually gets around to giving the game some of the attention I think it deserves.
Until then, I’ll keep playing what I enjoy.
So, Am I Buying GTA 6?
Yep.
And here’s where the whole thing gets funny.
I’m sitting here writing an article about how little interest I have in GTA 6, and I still plan on buying the game.
Why?
Because I can gameshare with my wife.
That’s pretty much it. LMAO.
I’m not planning to camp outside a store, take time off work, or spend every waking moment watching trailers and gameplay videos. I’m not saying I’ll never get excited about it, either.
Maybe I’ll play it and discover that Rockstar has created something that completely changes my mind.
Maybe the story will pull me in. Maybe the world will surprise me. Maybe I’ll end up putting hundreds of hours into it just like I did with GTA 5.
I’m open to that possibility.
But right now, I’m not feeling that excitement. I’m not counting down the days. I’m not losing sleep over it.
I’ll buy it, share it with my wife, and see how things go.
If I love it, great. If I don’t, there’s a whole library of other games waiting for me.
That’s the beauty of gaming. You don’t have to love every big release just because everybody else does.
Turning 40 With GTA 6
Here’s the part that really makes me laugh.
On November 19, I’ll be turning 40 years old, and GTA 6 is scheduled to release on the exact same day.
Think about that for a second.
A game I’ve spent years hearing about is finally coming out on my birthday, and I’m sitting here more interested in Red Dead Redemption 2 than the game everyone’s been waiting for.
I guess that’s what happens when you’ve been gaming for a long time. Your interests change. The things that used to get you hyped don’t always hit the same way anymore.
And sometimes, a game you already played ends up meaning more to you than the next big release.
For me, that’s Red Dead Redemption 2.
I still appreciate what GTA has done for gaming. I understand why GTA 6 is such a big deal, and I hope it turns out to be an incredible game for the people waiting on it.
But I don’t need to be excited about everything.
At 40, I know what I enjoy, and I know what I want out of a game. Give me a great story, a world I can get lost in, and something that makes me want to keep playing long after I’ve finished the main campaign.
That’s what Red Dead gave me.
And until Rockstar gives me a reason to feel differently, I’ll be right here, enjoying the games I love.
So, happy birthday to me, I guess. LMAO.
GTA 6 releases on my 40th birthday, and once again, I’m not interested.
Well… not interested enough to count down the days, anyway. I’ll still buy it.
Because gamesharing with the wife is a different story. 😂
Screw the Hype! Just Game and Have Fun!
Real Gaming Without The Hype — AshdrowGaming.
