The creators of the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 parody, Grand Taking Ages, have successfully launched the game on Steam after Sony removed it from the PlayStation Store. The game, a parody management simulator about running a game development studio, initially faced removal due to its use of AI-generated assets and its close resemblance to Rockstar's GTA 6.
Developer Violarte made significant changes to secure Steam approval. These included removing the "VI" from the title, redesigning the logo, and revising descriptions to clearly distinguish it from GTA 6. While the updated art still bears resemblance to Rockstar's style, it's a less direct imitation. The game continues to utilize AI, specifically for voiceovers, a fact disclosed on the Steam page in accordance with Valve's AI guidelines. The Steam page features a new trailer and updated screenshots, reinforcing the parody aspect.
The new Steam description 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!
Violarte adopted a proactive approach with Valve, discussing the game's concept before submission, ensuring compliance with their policies. They cited other projects, such as Grand Theft Hamlet, as precedent for parody protection.
Despite the Steam success, Violarte aims for a PlayStation Store relisting, submitting a request highlighting the implemented changes and Valve's approval. The incident raises questions about Sony's curation process, contrasting with Steam's more open approach to content. The proliferation of AI-generated content on various platforms is also highlighted. Rockstar's GTA 6 is still slated for release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in Fall 2025.
