GTA 6 To Launch With No Microtransactions or Generative AI

Rockstar Games confirmed at Gamescom that Grand Theft Auto VI will launch with no microtransactions, season passes, or other monetizations, and will not use generative AI, according to a Kinda Funny Games podcast. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick had previously stated that 'generative AI has zero part in what Rockstar Games is building.' The decision distances the game from industry trends toward AI-generated assets and in-game monetization.

Take-Two CEO, Strauss Zelnick, has previously commented on generative AI https://www.techpowerup.com/352043/xbox-ceo-asha-sharma-dodges-questions-about-helix-disc-drive in gaming, stating that "generative AI has zero part in what Rockstar Games is building," suggesting that there would be no AI-generated assets in GTA VI. Now, following the Gamescom GTA VI gameplay preview, Kinda Funny Games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd81Md-kByI published a podcast episode discussing a Q&A session the journalists had had with Rockstar, in which Rockstar confirmed that there would be no AI in GTA VI. Taking it a step further than that, Rockstar confirmed that there were "no monetizations in this game," meaning that it would feature no in-game microtransactions, season passes, or other monetizations at launch. It stands to reason that Rockstar and Take-Two may add these features at a later date, but it seems like the gaming giants are playing it safe with potentially controversial tech—the negative impacts of artificial intelligence in gaming has been a common topic lately, much to the chagrin of companies like EA https://www.techpowerup.com/350240/ea-exec-says-ai-everything-helps-creativity-workflows-and-pipelines , Pearl Abyss https://www.techpowerup.com/347630/pearl-abyss-apologizes-for-ai-generated-in-game-artwork-we-should-have-clearly-disclosed-our-use-of-ai , and Capcom https://www.techpowerup.com/347634/capcom-reveals-it-will-use-generative-ai-in-game-dev-for-effiency-but-not-final-assets .