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, lets players take on the role of running a game development studio.
Last month, despite using AI-generated art to poke fun at the long wait for Rockstar's GTA 6, and featuring a list of improbable gameplay features along with fake awards from gaming websites, Grand Taking Ages VI managed to appear on the PlayStation Store with a slated release date of May 2025. Users could even add it to their wishlists on PlayStation.
However, Sony eventually pulled Grand Taking Ages VI from the PlayStation Store. Now, after making what they describe as key adjustments, the game is back, this time on Steam, having convinced Valve of its legitimacy.
Developer Violarte told IGN that Grand Taking Ages underwent a "thorough" review process and has been approved for publishing on Steam. The Steam page now features a new trailer and updated screenshots, all emphasizing the parody aspect that Violarte uses to justify the project.
So, what's changed? Violarte has removed the "VI" from the game's title, altered the logo, descriptions, and overall presentation to clearly distinguish Grand Taking Ages from GTA 6 and highlight its unique direction. The art, which previously mimicked Rockstar's iconic GTA imagery, has been replaced with art that still resembles it, but to a lesser extent.
Despite these changes, Grand Taking Ages continues to use generative AI. In compliance with Steam's AI rules, Violarte disclosed on the game's Steam page that it used "AI services" for voice overs, which is evident in the trailer.
Here's the updated description on the Grand Taking Ages Steam page:
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 to get the game on Steam compared to their strategy with Sony for the PlayStation Store. "We approached Steam differently by engaging with their team about the concept of our game before officially submitting it," a representative told IGN. "This allowed us to get their perspective early on, ensuring alignment with their guidelines."
The company cited other projects like Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary about two out-of-work actors staging a production of Hamlet inside GTA Online, as examples of how GTA parodies should be protected from takedowns. "These examples showcase how parody can celebrate and entertain within existing genres while remaining creative and engaging," Violarte stated.
Violarte is now pushing to have Grand Taking Ages reinstated on the PlayStation Store. "We genuinely believe that, with the recent updates, Grand Taking Ages is now ready to be relisted on the PlayStation Store," they said. They've sent a request to Sony, highlighting the changes that convinced Valve to approve the game for Steam. "We strongly believe that there will be no issues with Sony this time, given the adjustments we've implemented," Violarte added.
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. The platform, along with various app stores and the Nintendo eShop, is filled with content, much of which is increasingly being created using generative AI.
Meanwhile, GTA 6 is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in the fall of 2025.
