Latest news with #GTA7
Metro
10-07-2025
- Metro
Microsoft Outlook goes down with users unable to access emails
Microsoft 365 is down as thousands prepare to start work for the day. Nearly 200 outages have been reported since 5am, with Outlook email also affected. Users say they are being told their licence is not valid despite being up-to-date with their subscription payments. One customer wrote online: 'It seems that a bunch accounts have been caught in a system error in which it shows that there are no payment details available for the accounts in the issue. 'Currently any Exchange Emails are not being Received or Sent from any email platform I have tried (Outlook or Gmail).' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Games Inbox: Will Wii games come to Nintendo Switch 2? MORE: Games Inbox: What will be the setting for GTA 7? MORE: Xbox is being set up to fail by Microsoft bosses, claims insider
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ex-Rockstar technical lead Obbe Vermeij predicts AI will lower GTA 7's dev cost, but 'higher-level creative' roles won't be replaced
(Image via Getty Images) Former Rockstar Games technical lead Obbe Vermeij has shared some thoughts on Grand Theft Auto 7's future. On a recent KIWI TALKZ's podcast, he talked about GTA 7 development cost and suggested it will be significantly cheaper than its predecessor, GTA 6. He believes artificial intelligence would significantly alter how the next major entry gets built. His prediction points to reduced production costs that remain driven by AI, taking complete control of substantial workloads. However, the former tech lead firmly believes that core creative roles would remain irreplaceable by machines. AI can play a role in cutting the GTA VII budget Obbe Vermeij, who made his contribution to some landmark titles like GTA: Vice City and GTA IV, believes AI in game development would fundamentally change the production of future games, in just the next five years. He specifically highlighted labor-intensive tasks, including the construction of massive open-world maps and the generation of intricate cutscenes, to be AI automation's prime candidates. Such a shift, as per his argument, is inevitable, but some, 'higher-level creative' roles like Designers, Art Directors and Writers wouldn't be replaced. It will continue shaping the game's vision. #191 - Obbe Vermeij Interview On The GTA Trilogy, GTA VI, Rockstar And His Indie Game Plentiful..... The former technical lead of Rockstar Games has directly predicted that "GTA 7 will be cheaper to make than GTA 6" as many of the tasks would be 'taken over by AI.' He envisions AI rapidly generating initial passes of characters, scenes, and even dialogues as per descriptions. Such automation, as per him, would handle the bulk of the work, quite potentially leading to some significant cost savings, as compared to the rumoured astronomical GTA 6 budget predictions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo But we'll have to wait another 15 years to see what changes truly come in Rockstar Games future projects. Human creativity in GTA titles will reign supreme Despite the anticipated rise of AI in production pipelines, Vermeij didn't forget to draw a clear line at the creative direction. As he asserted, creative work would remain the domain of human writers and artists. To set a unique visual style of the game, crafting a compelling storyline, defining narrative tone, etc., are seen as inherent human tasks. "I don't think AI will be doing the creative part," Vermeij stated, adding further, "You're still gonna have artists setting the style and the look, and you're still gonna have writers writing the story. I don't think AI can do that." While AI might generate the assets or some initial scene drafts as per prompts, vision, originality, and the emotional core would be dependent on human talent. Even programmers, too, would continue focusing on the higher-level systems, with AI handling some routine coding tasks. As per Vermeij, there's a potential upside to it all—cheaper development will allow for much more niche. It will lead to experimental game settings beyond those usual blockbuster formulas. Impact of AI on gaming and its future If Obbe Vermeij AI predictions hold true, AI can democratize game development. It will allow smaller studios to create some ambitious titles at a very low cost. Some experimental projects and niche games might flourish with production becoming much more efficient. However, the industry will have to balance efficiency and creativity. While AI can definitely handle all repetitive tasks, the soul of GTA games is in human ingenuity—something which advanced algorithms cannot replicate. As of now, GTA 6 is the focus of Rockstar Games. But the insights from Vermeij give a glimpse into how tech might reshape the future of gaming. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Metro
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: What will be the setting for GTA 7?
The Tuesday letters page isn't sure which PS5 game has the best graphics, as one reader explains his hatred for Donkey Kong 64. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ The next city It's been said that GTA 7 won't be nearly as big a gap from GTA 6 as GTA 6 was from 5, since Rockstar won't need to invent so much new tech. That sounds good and all but what are they planning to do for the gameplay evolution? GTA 6 looks amazing in the trailers, but I don't get the impression that it plays or works all that different from the previous ones. For me, GTA 7 would be the chance to give the game a proper revamp, but I'd also like to see it break the cycle of just going round in circles with the settings. This time it's Vice City, that shouldn't mean that next time is going to be Liberty City again. Rockstar has made it plain that they won't set any of the games outside the US (although I don't know why they couldn't create a spin-off to get around that, especially given one of the 2D games was set in London), but there's plenty of other big cities in America. They try and pack in most terrain types into each of the games but a story that focused on you being something other than a gangster would be interesting. Maybe you could play a cop or a paramedic or something and get mixed up in shady stuff from that. I just want them to mix it up a bit before it gets stale. Chadha Looking for an excuse It's pretty obvious to me that Microsoft wants to just give up on Xbox. I think the problem is they can't figure out a way to back out without making themselves look really bad. There're probably not many companies that could afford or would want Activision Blizzard either. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Even though Call Of Duty is a money printing machine, it can't be easy organising all those developers and teams and I think you'd ever have to leave it completely alone to do it its thing, which big companies can never do, or be really good at organising game developers – which Microsoft certainly isn't. If the next gen doesn't work out though, or something goes wrong with the Call Of Duty production line, I think that will be it. Xbox must be on thin ice already and I think Microsoft is just waiting for the excuse. Trepslis Real-world examples I really don't think it matters how powerful someone says a console is or isn't. Even if you're being really technical and looking at the specs, I've heard it all before. Especially the PS5 Pro being four times as fast or whatever. That's such a vague statement, it really means nothing. We'll know how powerful the Switch 2 is when we get a game that stretches it or when it tries to do something and fails. Actual examples are the only thing that matters. I think that's why this generation has been so disappointing in general. Even now, five years later, I'm not sure what game I'd point to on the PlayStation 5, to say that couldn't be done on PlayStation 4. Spider-Man 2 looks good but it's not mind-blowing or anything. Horizon Forbidden West is probably better and yet that's a cross-gen game! Kosh Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Totally bananas I don't know what Donkey Kong Bananza is going to turn out like, but I can tell you just reading about Donkey Kong 64 coming to Nintendo Switch Online made my eye twitch. That game is the worst! I've always felt Rare were overrated in general, but this was the absolute worse example of a collectathon I have ever played. People complain about game prices now, but this must've been £50 when it came out and it was my birthday present and the only thing I got. I hated it within the first day and it's soured my opinion of Rare and Donkey Kong ever since. That doesn't mean I won't consider Bananza, because I'm assuming it's very different, but I'm not surprised Donkey Kong hasn't had a major game to himself since, because his last one sucked! Gordo Arcade conversion I wonder if Capcom would ever bring back Bionic Commando? They tried to turn it into a Spider-Man clone back on the Xbox 360, but I'd like to see something a little less try-hard and a bit more of the goofy charm of the original. Although I grew up playing the Amiga version, with its amazing soundtrack, which as I understand is much more like the arcade game (which I never saw) and most Americans and Japanese only really think of the NES version when they think of the game. I hear Capcom is thinking of bringing back Mega Man but I never saw the appeal of those games. I guess it's hard to get into some things if you haven't got any nostalgia for the original. Especially NES games, which don't exactly age that well. I'd just like to see Capcom, and companies in general, do more wacky and less series stuff from time to time. It doesn't all have to be The Last Of Us. Lamnent Boardroom battles The thing I don't get about Phil Spencer's continued reign at Xbox is that it's well known that Game Pass was his idea, he's proud of it! And yet, from a business point of view it's been a complete failure. They wanted that to have 100 million subscribers by 2030. They're lucky if they'll have a third of that. Although of course we'll never really know because they're too embarrassed to share the numbers now. And that's just one clear and verifiable failure! I don't see what it is that his bosses think he's done so well that he's kept his job for over a decade and always seems to get what he wants, since Activision Blizzard was his idea as well. Either this guy has got some dirt on a lot of people or… I don't know. I really can't imagine why he's kept his job given everything that's happened and not happened. Although whoever's in charge of organising developers is doing an even worse job. That's what's really undermined Xbox for so long and I'm not sure Phil Spencer has much to do with the day to day of get games greenlit and finished. I don't know what goes on the behind the scenes, I don't think anyone that isn't Xbox does, but it all smells like office politics getting in the way of doing any actual work. Phil Spencer and his mob don't care about Xbox or gaming or anything other than their company bonus. My evidence for this? The last 15 years of Xbox. Lofty GC: Matt Booty is head of Xbox Game Studios. Ugly choice I don't want to stop anyone's fun, but Final Fantasy 9 has got to have the ugliest art design in the series and really, some of the ugliest of all time. It's no wonder to me that the new artwork for the anniversary doesn't look anything like the actual game. I can think of half a dozen Final Fantasy games I'd rather see get a remake before 9, most obviously 6 and 8. I think Square Enix has faintly hinted at 6 being a good idea but I don't expect to see it. Especially not if they've ended up cancelling 9, which there's been rumours about for years now. Camphor Gotta buy 'em all I was watching a video by StrawHat Midas on YouTube on Saturday gone and one commentator in the section was flabbergasted at the fact that if a parent wanted to buy their two kids a Switch 2 each, and both versions of the same Pokémon game so they could trade, it would cost nearly £1,000! That's crazy! That total is about 10 times the amount when people were playing Gen 1 Pokémon on original Game Boys! Wouldn't it be better if Game Freak released just one version of the game with a load of pokémon to catch in the game, with the remaining pokémon sold as a DLC island pack? But then, which pokémon would be the exclusives in order to be sent to the island/sold as DLC? Hmmm… I haven't really thought this through. In reality, that idea would never happen, as the whole point of these games is to trade. Back to the drawing board for me then. LeighDappa GC: It's not 10 times. With inflation, two Game Boys and two Pokémon games would have cost the equivalent of £586 in the 90s. Although, by the time Pokémon Red and Blue came out in the UK the original Game Boy had been superseded by the Game Boy Color. Inbox also-ransMaybe we've got it wrong about Xbox and they have got rid of their execs in favour of AI. It would explain the constant dumb decisions and why Phil Spencer has stuck around for so long: he's just a hologram. Heathcliffe I like the look of Resident Evil Requiem so far, but I don't see any sign of co-op yet, which is a bit of an upset. Wasn't there some talk of Resident Evil Revelations 3? I'd be really up for that. Gannet GC: There were rumours of a third game but nothing substantial. More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@ The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: What will be the first Mario Kart World DLC? MORE: Games Inbox: Are video games too expensive for young people? MORE: Games Inbox: Has Xbox become irrelevant this generation?
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ex-Rockstar developer predicts GTA 7 will be cheaper due to AI; here's 4 game-changing ways GTA 6 might use AI
GTA 6 fans have been eagerly waiting for the game to release for over a year now, amid ever-growing speculations and rumours online. While we have not yet seen the final version of GTA 6, rumours have already started circulating about its potential successor (could be named GTA 7) being cheaper to develop than the current version, says an ex-Rockstar Games developer. Obbe Vermeij, the former technical director of Rockstar North, has predicted that Rockstar Games might have to spend less on Grand Theft Auto VII as compared to GTA 6 due to the advancement in technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, it seems the predictions made by Vermej don't make an impact on the fans, as there is no such confirmation by Rockstar Games on the same yet, and more information is required to come to a conclusion. Former Rockstar Games developer predicts GTA 7 may have a lower budget than GTA 6 On July 3, the ex-Rockstar Games developer participated in an interview at a YouTube channel called KIWI TALKZ, where he shared that GTA 7 might be cheaper to develop than the upcoming instalment. He said, 'My prediction is that GTA 7 will be cheaper to make than GTA 6…we'll have to wait 15 years to see if I'm right or not.' 'I would imagine that let's say you do a cutscene, you could just, uh, you know, all the characters in the cutscene could just be rendered by an AI, including the conversation, if you just describe the scene. That could be your first pass of a cutscene,' he added. "gta7 will be cheaper to make than gta6"I had a fun chat with @kiwitalkz that just dropped: However, there is no such confirmation or statement released by Rockstar Games yet. But let's look into the 4 ways how GTA 6 could AI-in the game content. 4 ways GTA 6 could use AI for in-game content 1. Realistic radio hosts: GTA's iconic radio stations and news bulletins could be powered by AI to reflect what's happening in the game version. 2. Smarter NCP behaviour: AI can make non-playable characters (NCPs) far more realistic; instead of using pre-written dialogue, GTA 6 could employ AI-driven natural language to generate dynamic. 3. Generate buildings: AI can dynamically generate buildings and interiors in GTA 6, allowing each neighbourhood to feel unique and responsive to the player's actions or in-game events. 4. AI-generated missions and side quests: Rather than relying solely on scripted missions, AI could generate procedural missions based on the player's decisions, reputation, or location. This could lead to an endless stream of personalised quests that feel meaningful, unpredictable, and unique to each player.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What if GTA 6 never ends? How a Fortnite-style ecosystem could change everything
Source: Rockstar Games Rockstar Games could be working on something much more ambitious than merely another sequel with GTA 6. Based on far-reaching speculation and insider rumors, GTA 6 could adopt a live-service model like Fortnite, with the game constantly evolving rather than getting a conventional follow-up. This could redefine how gamers experience the Grand Theft Auto franchise, maybe permanently. GTA 6 can be Rockstar's forever game Leaks and developer teasers indicate that GTA 6 could turn into a regularly updated platform instead of a game with a clear-cut ending. Similar to Fortnite, the concept is to build an in-game universe where fresh narratives, cities, and events are added on top of a single game world over time. This "one game, infinite updates" approach would enable Rockstar to add content without releasing a brand-new title like GTA 7. This might translate to the players experiencing seasonal content updates, time-sensitive missions, dynamic map shifts, and character developments that change month after month or year after year. The core city, alleged to be a contemporary Vice City, may be the center, and other areas and timelines be supplemented through live events or DLCs. Rockstar's shift towards persistent online worlds, as evidenced through GTA Online, aligns with the notion that GTA 6 is going to be more of a long-term platform than a single SKU release. How a live-service model might transform GTA A Fortnite-style model would fundamentally change player involvement. On the one hand, players would be able to have continuous fresh content, changing storylines, and endless updates that refresh the game perpetually. Rockstar would also be able to implement real-time global events, crossovers with other IPs, and even seasonal mini-games or story packs, without ever releasing a new game. But at a cost. The live-service model might result in monetization fatigue, with battle passes and character purchases dominating the headlines. Fans of traditional single-player experiences will feel disenfranchised if narrative material becomes drip-fed or bound to online patching. And without a proper "ending," the game will lack the succinct narrative beats that made previous games great. If Rockstar makes GTA 6 a forever game, it may be the most radical change in the series' history. While it allows for infinite content and changing gameplay, it also threatens to move too far from what made Grand Theft Auto a single-player staple. Only time will let us know if this risk pays off. Also Read: Top 5 gameplay changes we could see if weight mechanics return in GTA 6
