From 2007 to 2013, Rockstar Games delivered at least one major release each year. Fans enjoyed GTA 4, Midnight Club Los Angeles (2008), Episodes From Liberty City (2009), Red Dead Redemption (2010), L.A. Noire (2011), Max Payne 3 (2012), and GTA 5 (2013).
Alongside these main games, Rockstar released major DLCs. GTA 4 had The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. Red Dead Redemption got Undead Nightmare, while L.A. Noire added new cases.
Since GTA 5’s launch, this trend has faded. Apart from Red Dead Redemption II in 2018, fans have seen no major single-player DLC.
Rockstar’s Golden Era of Releases
From 2007 to 2013, Rockstar Games delivered a major release every year. Fans enjoyed GTA 4, Midnight Club Los Angeles, Episodes From Liberty City, Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire, Max Payne 3, and GTA 5.
During this time, Rockstar also launched major DLCs. GTA 4 received The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. Red Dead Redemption got Undead Nightmare, while L.A. Noire added new cases.
After GTA 5’s release in 2013, that steady stream of single-player expansions slowed. Apart from Red Dead Redemption II in 2018, fans have seen no major single-player DLC.
The Canceled GTA 5 Content Plans
According to the account Synth Potato on X, Rockstar once planned eight single-player DLCs for GTA 5. These plans were confirmed by December 2023 leaks, also covered by Rockstar Mag’.
The projects included a Liberty City map expansion for GTA Online, a zombie-themed DLC, an alien invasion scenario, and a return to North Yankton. Rockstar also prepared character-focused episodes similar to GTA 4’s expansions, one for each of Michael, Franklin, and Trevor.
The Trevor episode partially survived through GTA Online, inspiring the Diamond Casino Heist. As one source stated, “The Liberty City expansion, zombie mode, and character episodes were all planned but never released.”
Could GTA 6 Use Canceled GTA 5 Content?
In 2013, Rockstar co-founders Sam and Dan Houser said their dream was “to create a GTA with all the cities from the series in one map.”
In 2020, GTA Online introduced the Cayo Perico island. This could have been a test for larger expansions. The canceled Liberty City content might fit perfectly into this long-term goal.
In 2022, journalist Jason Schreier reported that GTA 6 will “evolve over time with new content continuously added.” This approach could allow Rockstar to bring back Canceled GTA 5 Content as future expansions.
What Fans Can Expect From GTA 6
GTA 6 is set for release on May 26, 2026. Whether or not Rockstar reuses Canceled GTA 5 Content, players expect a rich base game with ongoing updates.
If concepts like Liberty City or North Yankton return, GTA 6 could finally deliver Rockstar’s dream of a truly interconnected GTA world. Massive map updates could keep players engaged for years, just like GTA Online has done since 2013.
