25 Unbelievable Things We Got Before GTA 6: The Ultimate List Of Delays And Real-World Wonders

The wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 has become a cultural phenomenon, a measuring stick for the passage of time. It’s a running joke, a deep sigh, and a testament to the immense anticipation for Rockstar Games’ next open-world masterpiece. Since the release of GTA V back in 2013, the world has fundamentally changed, technology has leaped forward, and countless once-in-a-lifetime events have occurred. This article, updated for , dives into the most unbelievable, hilarious, and significant things—from major video game releases to global political shifts—that the world received while patiently waiting for a confirmed release date for the highly anticipated title, currently speculated to be around late 2025 or 2026.

The "We Got X Before GTA 6" meme perfectly encapsulates the decade-long development cycle and the collective impatience of the gaming community. It’s a way of processing the immense time gap, turning frustration into a shared, humorous experience. The sheer volume of world-changing events and major media releases that have occurred in the interim is staggering, cementing GTA 6’s development as one of the longest and most scrutinized in modern gaming history.

The Passage of Time: Major World Events and Cultural Shifts

The waiting period for GTA 6 has spanned over a decade, meaning an entire generation of cultural, political, and technological milestones has come and gone. The meme often highlights these real-world events to underscore the sheer length of time fans have been waiting.

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• A Full U.S. Presidential Cycle (and More): We saw Donald Trump become President of the United States, complete his term, and run for re-election, all before the official GTA 6 trailer was released.
• The Renaming of a Social Media Giant: The platform formerly known as Twitter officially rebranded itself to 'X'—a move that was controversial and highly publicized—before the game's release.
• The Rise of AI and ChatGPT: Generative Artificial Intelligence moved from a niche concept to a mainstream global tool with the public release and massive adoption of platforms like ChatGPT.
• A Global Pandemic: The entire world experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, including multiple waves and the development of several vaccines, all while the GTA 6 development continued behind closed doors.
• The Return of a Boxing Legend: Mike Tyson came back to the ring for an exhibition match after a 19-year retirement.
• Eminem Became a Grandfather: The legendary rapper, a figure who has been a mainstay in pop culture since the 90s, welcomed his first grandchild.
• The Legalization of Unique Marriages: A man legally married a hologram of an anime character in Japan.

Technological Leaps and Console Generations

The gap between GTA V and the anticipated *GTA 6* release has covered multiple generations of gaming hardware, a fact that is often cited as a prime example of the long wait. The technological advancements have been immense, moving from the tail end of one generation to the middle of the next.

• Two Full Console Generations: We received the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and then their successors, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The community is now waiting for a game that will be a key title for the current-gen consoles.
• The Launch of the Nintendo Switch: Nintendo released their revolutionary hybrid console, the Nintendo Switch, which has since sold over 130 million units worldwide.
• The Rise of VR: Virtual Reality technology matured significantly, moving from niche PC setups to mainstream, standalone headsets like the Oculus Quest (now Meta Quest) and the PlayStation VR 2.
• The First Private Spaceflight: Commercial space travel became a reality, with companies like SpaceX launching private citizens into orbit.

A Decade of Gaming: Major Releases That Came First

Perhaps the most compelling examples of the long wait come from the gaming industry itself. The sheer number of highly anticipated, massive titles that have been developed, released, and in some cases, even received sequels, provides a clear timeline of the waiting period. This list highlights the depth of the gaming landscape that has emerged in the shadow of GTA 6's development.

• The Entirety of the PS4/Xbox One Era: Virtually every major, generation-defining title for the last console generation was released, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Red Dead Redemption 2 (also by Rockstar), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and God of War (2018).
• Nineteen Call of Duty Games: Not counting remasters, nearly twenty new installments in the annual Call of Duty franchise have hit shelves.
• The Elden Ring Phenomenon: FromSoftware released the critically acclaimed, genre-defining open-world RPG, Elden Ring, which won multiple Game of the Year awards.
• The Wait for Silksong Ended (or Will Soon): The sequel to the indie darling Hollow Knight, Hollow Knight: Silksong, has been a major point of anticipation for years, and its release is now expected to occur before GTA 6.
• The Cyberpunk 2077 Saga: The game was announced, developed, released, experienced a massive controversy, and was finally fixed and redeemed with a major expansion, all before GTA 6.
• The Final Fantasy VII Remake Trilogy Began: Square Enix launched the first two parts of their ambitious remake trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
• A Full Generation of Pokémon: Multiple new mainline Pokémon games and spin-offs were released across various Nintendo platforms.

The Ongoing Saga: Why the Wait Continues

The long wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 is a direct result of Rockstar Games' commitment to creating a massive, meticulously detailed, and technically flawless open-world experience. The success of GTA V and GTA Online, which have generated billions in revenue, set an impossibly high bar for the sequel. The development team is not just building a game; they are building an entire digital world, which requires an unprecedented amount of time and resources.

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The official announcement in late 2023 confirmed the game's setting in Vice City and its two main protagonists, Lucia and Jason, fueling a new wave of excitement. However, the release date has been a moving target, with various reports and official statements pointing to a general 2025 window, and more recent leaks or speculation suggesting a fixed date like November 19, 2026. This continued uncertainty is what keeps the "We Got X Before GTA 6" meme fresh and relevant.

Ultimately, the meme is a testament to the cultural weight of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. It’s a shared experience of anticipation that connects a global community of gamers. While we may have received new consoles, political shifts, and countless other video games, the one thing everyone is still waiting for is the next evolution of the open-world genre. When GTA 6 finally arrives, it won't just be a game release; it will be a moment that closes a decade-long chapter of waiting, making all the 'X's that came before it a nostalgic footnote in gaming history.