Industry Survey Shows Strong Support to Limit GTA 6 from TGA Game of the Year
A recent industry survey conducted by InsiderGaming has stirred controversy by revealing that over 70 percent of participating game developers and media editors support restricting Grand Theft Auto VI from competing in TGA’s Game of the Year category. Some respondents went further, advocating for the title’s complete removal from the nominee list. The survey arrives months before GTA 6’s scheduled November 19 release, with only a few official trailers publicly available and no substantial gameplay footage yet revealed. The findings reflect a growing unease within the industry regarding Rockstar Games’ market dominance, with many concerned that the sheer scale and anticipation surrounding GTA 6 could render the awards ceremony’s most prestigious category devoid of competitive tension.
Rockstar Games has long been regarded as the gold standard for open-world design, with a track record spanning over two decades. From GTA V’s detailed physics interactions — including NPC reactions to weather and vehicle tire marks varying by surface — to Red Dead Redemption 2’s obsessive environmental simulation, the studio has consistently raised the bar. GTA V alone has sold over 210 million copies worldwide since its 2013 release, generating over $75 billion in total revenue across platforms. Industry estimates place GTA 6’s combined development and marketing budget at over $2 billion, making it the most expensive entertainment project ever undertaken.
Despite Rockstar’s dominance in the former Spike VGA era — winning Game of the Year four times between 2004 and 2013 — the studio has never claimed the top prize since VGA rebranded to TGA in 2014. Red Dead Redemption 2 came closest in 2018, winning four awards but losing Game of the Year to God of War. The late October release date of Red Dead Redemption 2 was cited as a factor, giving judges insufficient time to fully experience the lengthy narrative. GTA 6 faces a similar predicament with its November 19 launch falling even closer to TGA’s voting window, potentially repeating that outcome.
The push to limit GTA 6’s eligibility highlights deeper issues within the gaming industry and TGA itself. Critics point to TGA’s conflicted identity — aspiring to be both a prestigious “Oscar of gaming” and a commercially driven spectacle. The survey also reflects the growing oligopolization of AAA development, where skyrocketing costs increasingly concentrate resources among a handful of powerhouse studios and established IPs. While the instinct to restrict dominant competitors may stem from a desire for fair competition, true fairness arguably comes from transparent, consistent rules applied equally to all participants. The quality of a trophy should not depend on which contenders are kept out.
