The creators of the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 parody game, Grand Taking Ages, have made a comeback with a new Steam page after Sony removed it from the PlayStation Store. Grand Taking Ages, described by its developers as a parody management simulator, puts players in charge of running a game development studio.
Last month, despite using AI-generated art to poke fun at the long-awaited release of Rockstar’s GTA 6, and including a list of implausible gameplay features along with fake awards from video game websites, Grand Taking Ages VI managed to appear on the PlayStation Store with a slated release date of May 2025. Users were even able to wishlist the game on PlayStation.
However, Sony eventually pulled Grand Taking Ages VI from the PlayStation Store. Now, after making key adjustments, the game is back on Steam. Developer Violarte told IGN that Grand Taking Ages went through a "thorough" review process and is now approved for publishing on Steam. The Steam page features a brand new trailer and updated screenshots that emphasize the game's parody nature.
Violarte made several changes to the game to secure its spot on Steam. The "VI" was removed from the game title, and the logo, descriptions, and overall presentation were updated to clearly differentiate Grand Taking Ages from GTA 6 and to highlight its unique direction. The art, while still reminiscent of Rockstar’s iconic GTA imagery, has been modified to avoid direct comparisons.
Despite these changes, Grand Taking Ages continues to use generative AI, particularly for its voice overs, as disclosed on the Steam page in accordance with Steam’s AI rules. The new description on the Steam page 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 took a different approach with Valve compared to Sony, engaging with the Steam team about the game's concept before officially submitting it. This early dialogue helped ensure alignment with Steam's guidelines. The company also cited other parody projects like Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary about staging Hamlet inside GTA Online, as examples of how parody can be both creative and engaging within established genres.
Violarte is now pushing to get Grand Taking Ages back on the PlayStation Store, believing that the recent updates make it suitable for relisting. They have sent a request to Sony, highlighting the changes that led to Valve's approval for Steam release. "We strongly believe that there will be no issues with Sony this time, given the adjustments we've implemented," Violarte stated.
The brief appearance of Grand Taking Ages VI on the PlayStation Store raised questions about Sony’s curation process. In contrast, Valve's more open policy on Steam is well-known, with numerous games, including those using generative AI, available on the platform.
Meanwhile, GTA 6 is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in the fall of 2025.
