The creators of the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 parody, Grand Taking Ages, have successfully launched the game on Steam after its removal from the PlayStation Store. Initially released on PlayStation with AI-generated assets and a May 2025 release date, the game was quickly pulled by Sony.
Grand Taking Ages, a parody management simulator about running a game development studio, underwent significant revisions to secure Steam approval. These changes included removing the "VI" from the title, updating the logo, descriptions, and visuals to better distinguish it from Rockstar's GTA 6. While the game still utilizes AI-generated assets, including voiceovers (as disclosed per Steam's AI guidelines), the updated presentation aims to clearly establish its parody nature.
The Steam page features a new trailer and screenshots emphasizing the parody angle. The game's description now reads: "Coming Soon Since Forever! Start your game dev journey in mom's garage! Battle angry fans, dodge ruthless journalists, and perfect the art of 'creative' deadlines. Survive on pizza and energy drinks while building your dream studio into... a slightly better garage!"
Developer Violarte adopted a proactive approach with Valve, discussing the game's concept before submission, ensuring alignment with Steam's guidelines. They cite other projects like Grand Theft Hamlet as precedents for parody protection. Despite the successful Steam launch, Violarte seeks PlayStation Store reinstatement, believing the implemented changes address Sony's previous concerns.
The contrast between Sony's stricter curation and Valve's more open approach highlights the differing philosophies of digital distribution platforms. The increasing use of AI in game development, even in parody projects, raises questions about content moderation and copyright. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated GTA 6 remains slated for a Fall 2025 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
