The creators of the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 parody, Grand Taking Ages, have successfully launched the game on Steam after its removal from the PlayStation Store. The game, a parody management simulator about running a game development studio, faced initial rejection due to its use of AI-generated assets and its close resemblance to Rockstar's GTA franchise.
Developer Violarte made significant changes to secure Steam approval. These included removing the "VI" from the title, redesigning the logo, and revising descriptions to better distinguish the game from GTA 6. While the updated art still bears a resemblance to Rockstar's style, the changes were sufficient to meet Steam's criteria. The developer also openly disclosed the use of AI services for voiceovers, complying with Steam's AI guidelines. The Steam page now features a new trailer and updated screenshots, all emphasizing the parody aspect.
The game's new Steam 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 adopted a proactive approach with Valve, engaging in discussions about the game's concept before submitting it for review. This collaborative approach, unlike their strategy with Sony, ensured alignment with Steam's guidelines. The developer cites other GTA parodies, such as Grand Theft Hamlet, as precedent for protecting parody projects from takedown notices.
Despite its success on Steam, Violarte aims to reinstate Grand Taking Ages on the PlayStation Store, citing the Steam approval as evidence of the game's updated compliance. The contrasting experiences highlight the differing content moderation policies between Steam's more lenient approach and Sony's stricter curation process. The incident also underscores the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content in the gaming industry. Meanwhile, the long-awaited GTA 6 is slated for release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in Fall 2025.
