- By Prateek Levi
- Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:53 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
GTA 6: One of the biggest and most anticipated game launches that will take place this decade is Rockstar's GTA 6. By far we have received two trailers and a few pre-release snapshots of the game, giving us a small insight into what the game might look and feel like when it is finally out there to play. With that said, it is said to be one of the biggest games that have ever been created, and the rumours also tell us that it is one of the most expensive games to be created as well, with its budget reaching around $2 billion if leaks are to be believed.
India in recent times has emerged as one of the biggest hubs of gaming, and it's not just playing the games but also developing them as well. While we wait for the game to drop, which is expected to happen next year, a team of developers in India are building a major part of the map in GTA 6! This showcases how big industry players are looking towards India when it comes to building and creating games.
Rockstar India Takes the Lead on Vice Beach, a Key GTA 6 Location
Rockstar India is stepping into the spotlight. The Bengaluru-based studio has been handed full responsibility for developing ‘Vice Beach’—a major new city that will appear on the main map in GTA 6. This isn’t just a support role; it’s a lead assignment, making Rockstar India a central force behind one of the most anticipated open-world games of the decade.
Image Credits: Rockstar Games
What makes this move even more significant is the scale of the contribution. Out of nearly 6,000 developers working on GTA 6 globally, around 1,615 are from Rockstar India, giving it the largest headcount of any Rockstar studio. The UK team, spread across multiple offices, has around 2,600 developers, while the U.S. team contributes over 1,400. But it’s not just about numbers—India’s impact is tied to the sheer weight of the task it’s leading.
From Support Studio to Creative Powerhouse
In past Rockstar titles like GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, the Indian studio worked in a supporting capacity, contributing assets and background design. With GTA 6, the story is different. Rockstar India is leading the creation of an entire city—handling everything from urban planning and open-world design to environment art and asset generation for Vice Beach.
Image Credits: Rockstar Games
This change highlights a shift in Rockstar Games’ global development strategy. Instead of centralising creative leadership at Rockstar North, which traditionally led the GTA series, the company is now spreading major responsibilities across its worldwide studios.
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How Rockstar India Came Into Being
The studio was formally setup in 2016, but Rockstar India became a major player after Rockstar acquired Dhruva Interactive in 2019. That was a turning point from where the studio has only grown in size and has more responsibilities, with its current role in developing a major location in GTA 6 the biggest and most anticipated game we might see in a decade, it showcases its importance within company's global outreach.
It’s a major moment for Rockstar India—and a big step forward for the role of Indian developers in AAA game design.