Cliff Notes – Games Inbox: When will GTA 6 Trailer be released
- The release of the second trailer for GTA 6 is likely to be delayed until late summer, as Rockstar Games adopts a new marketing strategy of withholding details for extended periods after initial announcements.
- This trend of delayed updates is becoming common among major developers, including Sony, leading to frustration among fans who prefer more consistent communication regarding game developments.
- The anticipation surrounding GTA 6’s trailer is expected to influence other companies to follow suit, potentially reshaping how game announcements and marketing are approached in the industry.
Games Inbox: When will GTA 6 Trailer be released?
The Tuesday letters page has 10 predictions for the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, as one reader is doubtful the Star Wars strategy game will be a hit.
Trailer policy
I guess I’m glad to hear that the second trailer for GTA 6 is being purposefully kept back, rather than being a sign of a delay, but I can’t pretend that I don’t find it all a bit annoying. I know it’ll all be forgotten about the instant the game, or even just the trailer, is released but I’m not sure I like this new idea of announcing a game and then waiting a year or more to get any details.
Sony is doing it a lot lately, with Wolverine, Intergalactic, and Ghost of Yōtei and I don’t like it there either. Either announce the game early and give us constant updates or announce it close to its release date. Doing it half and half just feels like the worst of both worlds.
If Rockstar is doing it though everyone’s going to copy it, because obvious GTA 6 is going to be huge and there’s no way to prove the trailer policy didn’t hurt it. My guess, based on these new comments, is that Trailer 2 won’t happen till late summer at the very earliest. I’m not happy about it, but it is what it is.
Dulac
Acceptable AI
Just have to give a bit of a positivity for one bit of AI in gaming. After last week’s update to Gran Turismo and the introduction of Sophy 2.1 to custom races I have to say it really is quite amazing. One thing to note is you have to set the Boost setting in the race to Weak, not Off, to get it to work but when you do it really is some of the closest and competitive racing I have had in a game ever.
I would say this is likely going to take over me doing the daily races online, as it gives you that real competitive racing without the idiots! Certainly worth checking it out if you haven’t!
SaintsStickman (PSN ID)
GC: Interesting, but then we don’t think anyone would object to using AI for something like that.
Miracle workers
On the subject of the Metroid Prime 4 graphics, as nice as they looked I’d be flabbergasted if it was running on anything other than the Switch. Pertinently, Digital Foundry just did a video on the Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch port and were remarking on how the Wii U original looked much better than pretty much every other open world game of that era, due to smart art direction and design.
I think that’s the case here – good design, rather than fancy technology – since the world looks great but I didn’t see anything in terms of lighting, textures or particle effects that looked beyond the Switch (which let’s not forget, has a lovely Doom Eternal port).
It really shows the benefit of fixed hardware, as developers can make compromises where they need to and get a game looking and running as well as it can. Regardless, I think people will be impressed with a PlayStation 4-ish level Nintendo handheld, as I’m sure they’ll work wonders.
Magnumstache
Can’t beat ‘em
After watching last week’s Nintendo Direct (and eagerly awaiting this week’s to find out more on the Switch 2), the game that grabbed my attention was Marvel Cosmic Invasion.
I love its art style and the idea of playing as one of 15 different, and niche in some instances, heroes but am wondering whether it’ll retain my interest. I remember loving Streets Of Rage and the X-Men and The Simpsons arcade games when I was younger but would’ve often been playing these in co-op, which I don’t get a chance to do anymore.
I re-read GC’s reviews of Streets Of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge to remind myself of the calibre of these games, having not played them myself, and noted the concern around their replayability – and maybe general sense of fun – when playing them solo. Have any readers played either of these games solo and would recommend doing so?
Obviously, Marvel Cosmic Invasion might be a different story when it’s released, and I’ll be reading GC’s review of it before making any decisions, but I thought I’d look into testing the waters with Dotemu’s recent beat ‘em-up hits ahead of this.
Hubert
GC: It’s a good point, as while we love seeing all these faux retro beat ‘em-up it is frustrating that none of them make any attempt to do anything new. Shredder’s Revenge was particularly disappointing in this respect, as it looked amazing but was shallow and repetitive even by the standards of the genre. Streets Of Rage 4 is the best of the recent games but there’s still more it could’ve done.
Out of step
Having read the piece by Tom Meadows, I’ve come to the conclusion that he is overexaggerating.
Yes, some of Sony’s IP is going to PC and Switch, but we are talking at least 12 months after onto PC and the Switch is getting some of the niche, dormant franchises from years gone by. Patapon and Everybody’s Golf are hardly AAA system sellers, are they?
I think Sony is taking the right approach, bring some games to other formats that suit the format in question, be it Switch or PC (I can’t see them releasing anything on Xbox) and keep your AAA games for the PlayStation 5 and eventually PC.
That’s if Sony actually want do release any first party games… for me this gen has been a massive step down on the PlayStation 4 for output and quality.
That focus on online games has really hurt them.
StewWBA1980 (gamertag/PSN ID)
Switch to strategy
Very happy to think the new Star Wars game will be an XCOM clone, even if I’m kind of surprised, because there doesn’t seem much chance it’ll be a hit. Not because it’s not good but because none of these tactics games that I like ever seem to do well.
Turn-based strategies are relatively popular with indie devs, which is where I get my usual fix, but I really wish XCOM 2 had been the mega hit it deserved to be. I guess it’s obvious why it wasn’t – complicated, thoughtful, no action – but it’s such a good game.
We’ve already had a Marvel strategy game (by the XCOM team) be a flop and now we’re probably headed for the same with Star Wars, so if they can’t make it work then what hope have we?
I’m pinning the last chance of strategy games going mainstream on the Switch 2 and its new mouse controls. Who knows what madness Nintendo is planning with that, but it seems impossible it won’t involve at least some strategy games.
If they make them a hit and people start copying them then maybe things will be looking up and strategy games will be getting bigger budgets and then, finally, XCOM 3.
Halifax
Separate worlds
Now you mention it, it is odd that movies never have a game coming out close to them, for a bit of cross-promotion. The Last Of Us Part 1 was probably one of the closest and that was whatever.
I am interested to see what will happen with Borderlands 4 though. I actually don’t think the film being a flop and a laughing stock will affect its popularity. I think the reason there’s never a tie-in game is because people just don’t see games and movies as having any real connection, even when they’re adaptations. I’m sure it doesn’t help but I doubt it’s going to kill the franchise or anything.
Gordon
10 Nintendo Switch 2 predictions
By synthesising console and handheld, Nintendo went horizontal with the original Switch. With the Switch 2 they appear to be going vertical, by fully leaning into the Apple business model.
After the virtual cartridge reveal, which may have been the main incentive for the oddly timed Direct last week, my wager is that they’ll make a big thing of cross-generation compatibility at the imminent Switch 2 Direct.
This makes complete sense. With a huge userbase established with the Switch 1, they’ll be keen to build an ecosystem that locks punters in – the Apple way – through each new console iteration. Through the virtual cartridge their peerless and massive back catalogue will help ensure sales for each new console remain robust. My suspicion is that, assuming the Switch 2 is successful, they’ll be far more conservative than in the past.
Each new console, Switch 3, 4, etc. or whatever will stick with the form factor, with additional novelty control mechanics. This’ll also help them dominate the market when eventually, through high-speed internet connections, games can be played without consoles, essentially through a subscription service.
The rumour, then, that the Switch 2 will be able to play Wii U games seems entirely plausible. So, if I’m right that they’ll make a big thing of cross-generational gaming, I offer the following predications for the Switch 2 event.
Confirmation that Wii U games can be played via the virtual console, maybe even showcasing asymmetrical gameplay on one game. The Wii U virtual console will not be available at launch though.
Revealing a Metroid Prime 4 Switch 2-only iteration, providing a comparison to the Switch 1 version to showcase the system’s power. It’ll confirm that the footage was for the Switch 1, making the upgrade, which will be a notable improvement, more impressive. (Another reason for the Direct last week.)
Showing how a game such as Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is boosted on the Switch 2.
Reveal of a virtual GameCube console with the beloved F-Zero GX available at launch, to entice hardcore early adopters and prepare for an eventual new entry in the series.
Mario Kart 9 will be shown but will not be a launch title. This would be consistent with the timing of previous iterations, as early adopters will buy the console regardless. It’d be the perfect holiday release, able to withstand the GTA 6 onslaught, given that the gameplay is radically different that aims at a different market and, more so than Super Mario, is a system seller. A reimagined Splatoon 4 will also launch during the holiday period. It’ll cater to the Japanese market, selling in large quantities regardless of GTA 6.
Super Mario Universe will be the big launch game and highlight reveal. It’ll be a celebration of the entire back catalogue, either through Throwback Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy 2) style Easter eggs or a fully integrated experience wherein – Mario Kart style – beloved levels from every iteration will be redesigned from the ground up to work seamlessly with the control mechanism, with many 2D levels from the past now in 3D. You’ll also be able to play as Peach, Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Captain Toad on particular levels (they’ll work as a team to defeat Bowser at the end). In fact, there’ll be 3D levels of the original Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., with Bowser the adversary. This’ll be consistent with rumours of a Donkey Kong game.
A Switch 2-only Metroid Prime 4 will also launch with the system.
There’ll be one other launch title from Nintendo, a new franchise that makes use of the mouse control but not a throwaway title like 1-2-Switch.
Animal Crossing and either a remake of Zelda: A Link To The Past (in 3D) or Ocarina Of Time will both launch in early 2026, with an outside chance that one of the Zeldas will feature in the Direct. Animal Crossing won’t.
There’ll be one major reveal and launch title from a third party publisher and a Switch 2 version of something like Elden Ring, again a launch title.
Okay, so there are my predictions, all of which will probably be hopelessly off the mark.
Ciara
