Sony Removes GTA 6 Parody Game from PS Store; Now Available on Steam

The team behind the controversial parody game Grand Taking Ages, which playfully pokes at the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6, is back in the spotlight with a new Steam page after Sony removed it from the PlayStation Store. The game, developed by Violarte, is described as a parody management simulator where players take on the role of running a game development studio.

Last month, Grand Taking Ages VI made headlines when it appeared on the PlayStation Store with a slated release date of May 2025, featuring AI-generated art that satirized the wait for Rockstar's GTA 6. It also boasted a list of unlikely gameplay features and fake awards from video game websites, allowing users to wishlist the game. However, Sony quickly pulled it from their platform.

Now, after undergoing what Violarte describes as a "thorough" review process, Grand Taking Ages has been approved for publishing on Steam. The game's Steam page showcases a new trailer and updated screenshots, highlighting its parody nature. Key changes include removing the "VI" from the title, altering the game's logo, descriptions, and overall presentation to distinguish it more clearly from GTA 6 and to emphasize its unique direction.

Despite these changes, Grand Taking Ages still employs generative AI, particularly for voice overs, as disclosed on its Steam page. The new game 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 mentioned a different approach with Valve compared to Sony, engaging with the Steam team about the game's concept before official submission. This allowed for early feedback and alignment with Steam's guidelines. The developer also referenced projects like Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary about staging Hamlet within GTA Online, to argue that parodies of GTA should be protected from takedowns.

With these updates, Violarte is now pushing for Grand Taking Ages to be relisted on the PlayStation Store. They have reached out to Sony, highlighting the changes that led to Steam's approval, and are confident that these adjustments will resolve any previous issues.

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 various app stores and the Nintendo eShop also seeing an increase in games utilizing generative AI.

Meanwhile, fans eagerly await the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in the fall of 2025.