The creators of the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 parody, Grand Taking Ages, are back in the game, this time securing a spot on Steam after Sony removed it from the PlayStation Store. This management simulator, where players run a game development studio, initially launched on the PlayStation Store last month, featuring AI-generated art and a humorous list of improbable gameplay features. Despite its satirical nature, the game's inclusion of fake awards and a May 2025 release date ultimately led to its removal.
Following a thorough review process and key adjustments, Grand Taking Ages has now been approved for release on Steam. These changes included dropping the “VI” from the title, updating the logo, descriptions, and presentation to better differentiate it from Rockstar's GTA 6. While the new art still bears a resemblance to Rockstar's iconic style, it's a more subtle homage.
The game still utilizes generative AI, a fact disclosed on the Steam page, specifically for voiceovers. The new Steam page 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!"
Developer Violarte adopted a different approach with Valve, proactively engaging with their team to ensure alignment with their guidelines before submitting the game. They cite other projects, such as Grand Theft Hamlet, as examples of successful GTA parodies. Violarte has now requested reinstatement on the PlayStation Store, highlighting the Steam approval as evidence of the game's updated compliance.
The incident raises questions about Sony's curation process, contrasting with Valve's more open-door policy on Steam, a platform increasingly populated by games utilizing generative AI. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated GTA 6 is slated for release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in the fall of 2025.
