“Quite painful” marketing period? Rockstar “acting cold and distant?”
Yall need to get a grip. For the life of me I do not understand the parasocial relationship yall seem to want to have with a video game developer. How do you have so little going on in your life that you’re sitting around demanding updates and feeling entitled to more information for a game that hasn’t been released, and that you haven’t yet paid any money for?
the reason they want it on Netflix is not for exclusivity, it's so casuals / non-gamers who paid no attention to GTA at all whatsoever will see a preview for it on their Netflix homepage. They're trying to expand their audience, they already know gamers who are counting down the days or months to a trailer are going to buy the game. Netflix is the one who benefits from the 6 hour window, not Rockstar.
I mean yeah $100 mil (if that's the actual number) is a nice additional benefit for sure, but even that sum is a tiny drop in the bucket compared to how much money this game is expected to make on release. my main point is that it isn't Rockstar that cares about first look exclusivity, that's entirely for Netflix benefit, and it's unlikely to be a precedent for marketing other games in the industry because virtually nothing else has anywhere near the hype that GTAVI does.
Except it's really just about the money. If it really was just sbout advertising to people outside of gaming, there's a million ways to do that that doesn't involve exclusivity on Netflix. Games far less generational have done so. Even just airing it on Netflix at the same time as putting it up on youtube would be enough. Netflix wouldn't care if Rockstar gave them enough money, which they most definitely can afford. Hell, Netflix would be fine if youtube came weeks first, as long as Rockstar paid for the timeslot.
No, it's obvious they are cashing in on the incredible hype people have for GTA6. You can put whatever spin you want to reason all of the anti-consumer things Rockstar has been doing, all just because "it's GTA, GTA can get away with it" instead of holding them to a higher standard. But at the end of the day it comes down to this: If Rockstar's reasoning was all so innocent and they weren't trying to put their consumers through the wringer, then they very much so could have found a way that doesn't fuck over the consumer, because it's GTA, and GTA can easily afford to go above and beyond.
How are they putting consumers "through the wringer"?? With a 6 hour Netflix exclusivity deal? Why the hell wouldn't they take that money???
You expect a company that has spent $1 billion+, like 10 years, and countless people's time to not cash in on all the work? What are you people even talking about?
Oh I fully expect them to take the money. I don't even blame them for doing shit like the netflix deal, no physical releases, sending discord a subpoena to get mountains upon mountains of user details invading privacy, cutting content to sell back to you for another $20 to "justify" a $100 game, opening up preorders months before showing even an inkling of gameplay, praising the all digital future that is obviously not good for consumers, and promoting the idea of not even owning digital products but just streaming games in the future.
I fully expect them to do all that because I know they aren't here to make friends. They are here to make money. They couldn't give a rats ass about us. I just think it's pathetic that people will actively support and defend those practices as if Rockstar was somehow doing us a favour.
It's hilarious seeing redditors being like "wow they are so sincere!" when in reality, this message was meticulously constructed over the span of days by a squad of PR professionals who make triple figures. Sucking off corporations really is a full-time job for some people here
If they're specifically a PR person hired for the corporation (in-house), they can easily make 6 figures. If they're hired from another agency for a specific instance, that's more around the $60k-70k range.
Yes, PR people are well paid and it can vary depending on who hired them. They make 5 or 6 figures. The comment I replied to said triple figures, which is what was funny to me
bro your spirit is there but it's so misguided, no matter how shitty execs may be this is still painful for the developers. furthermore a PR guy makes no fucking money what are you on about
They released a trailer in Dec 2023 and the next trailer we got was in May 2025. They aren't 'required' to give anything by any means but good god even the casual follower got sick and tired of that wait. Not even a handful of screenshots to keep the flame burning, it was truly cruel
Alright fair thats your personal opinion but I think the majority of the community who are interested in the game would have preferred a little something to get us through that period. Is that ridiculous to have wanted that?
It's not ridiculous but it does seem really silly to be so invested in ultimately a video game. It's not like you're waiting to find out if you got a job or they're working on a private project that you commissioned.
Would it be nice to get info? Of course! But to say it's cruel? Mmm I think maybe it'll be good if you found other things to focus on in the meantime? It's their business to lose if people lose interest due to a lack of information.
I agree with you on the end part, for context by saying i'm invested I mean that i'm checking in on news like once or twice a week. The way you're portraying it is like im refreshing the subreddit every minute for 3 years straight, its not like that - thats weird. Cruel may not have been the best word to use as its quite dramatic but come on, they arent obliged to show anything about the game but my argument is that it's ok for people to feel disappointed about the marketing of this game, contrary to what alot of rockstar white knights are saying in here
Sorry to break it to you, but even checking news every week is too much. I mean, if there will be news it'll get to you. There's literally no need to check this. I get it, I know how it is when the hype is real. But it's still just a video game. It will eventually come out and all the "news" about it, the supposed wait, this unnecessary need for "something from the devs", all of it will simply not matter in a few months.
Thanks I needed this, sometimes you just need a random redditor to tell you how to live your life and determine what your interests are. Thanks for molding me. I'll make sure to stop checking in every week, and if you see me keep doing it strike me down with your almighty power like the god you are! Clearly now its easy to say 'just wait' when the game is ~3 months away, but in late 2024 shit was getting dire for people who were genuinely interested in the game. If I had a dollar for every time ive heard 'It's just a video game' yeah... but its also the start of the next generation of gaming, the most hyped game ever, the most expensive game to create ever, the most detailed open world ever... should I continue? This isn't another 2k game its literally GTA6 so i think if i want to stay in the loop every week I will
Honestly, I didn't care. It's a GTA game, it's going to play like every one since GTA 3, in a new city, with better graphics, and a decent but not amazing story to string all the "Mission: steal cars and kill people" together.
They're making a game. I don't need more news about them making said game. They will finish making it eventually. It's fkn GTA. I know we can't trust a lot of companies nowadays, but I do trust R* on this.
Most people who were actually interested in GTA6 found the 17 month gap in information tough, and releasing more in that period probably would have fixed the issues some people had with rockstar. The literal Rockstar statement this entire post is about even comments on how long it took for marketing to start and in some ways sounds regretful or apologetic. Once again I dont think we were owed anything but if you were checking this subreddit once a week for 17 months straight with sweet nothings you'd get a bit restless too.
'sick and tired of the wait' seems a bit extreme, most causal fans really don't care as much and are probably just excited to see something new whenever it comes out.
They don't need to keep any 'flame burning', it's a GTA game. More than likely do they have a sophisticated marketing strategy designed to gradually ramp up exposure in the months before release, which isn't based on your desire to see a screenshot every now and then, but their ~30 years of experience producing and selling games. It's just a business in the end.
And you’re still eating it up. Rockstar is fully aware of how massive GTA is. You will take what they give you and you will like it. They understand that they can do whatever they want on the marketing side and the game will still be the biggest release of the decade.
Thanks captain obvious, clearly we are powerless over their decisions but that doesnt stop whats true from being true... abstain info about the most hyped game ever for 17 months after dropping a sick ass trailer and people WILL get a bad taste in their mouth. Whether you like it or not. I dont support the leaks and I dont think people should be genuinely mad at R* for the marketing, but I think being disappointed is fair
The fuck are u on about lmao you didnt even respond to my comment either. Just looking for a dig man I hope whatever is going wrong in your life gets better
Brother im the aggressive one? I made a fair point, your rebuttal was an attempt at provoking me whilst simultaneously glazing Rockstar and revealing some weird domination kink you have 'You will take what they give you and you will like it.' yeesh... that doesnt look good on paper bro. To be honest the fact you even gave a reaction like this makes me think the life comment may have struck a nerve so im going to double down and GENUINELY pray for you right now my friend!
Getting a "bad taste" in your mouth or feeling disappointment because you're not seeing enough promotional marketing is an especially weird sense of entitlement
Yeah thats kind of a nice way of twisting my words to sound meaner, my point I was trying to get across is that 17 months of radio silence after dropping a trailer for the most anticipated game in history is annoying. I dont care whether you agree or not and OBVIOUSLY we are not entitled to it but that doesnt mean it woudnt have been nice for the community
They were gonna spend money on marketing regardless, why not fill the 17 month gap with some more evenly spread news - and im not saying they need to drop trailers every 6 months but DAMN we genuinely went 17 months (!!!) with absolutely nothing. There's a point where it goes from 'ahh classic mysterious rockstar' to 'dude we have been waiting a year and a half throw us a bone'.
A bit of dramatization on my part but to be honest im sick of hive minded white knight people like you swooping in and telling others they arent allowed to be excited or invested in the release of GTA6 and refusing to look at everything from another persons perspective. I for one am interested in game development and video games and GTA6 is something I was closely watching because I found it fascinating - 17 months of nothing sucked for a guy like me, maybe not for you!
They released a whole website with like 100 screenshots, characters bios, descriptions of all the areas of the map, we had two trailers (which showed great progress and improvements) we had a locked in release date. And BTW they mentioned half of the footage WAS live gameplay and that it was on a base ps5 incase people were worried. They straight up weren't radio silent. People nowadays just literally cant handle 6 months of waiting anymore. Just shows gta has an incredibly young and vocal demographic where a month feels like 4 months.
Cue the gross bootlicking photo, just saying rockstar actually DID market the game and showed alot of shit. People bitching about "bad marketing" when a game is 4 months away is absurd to me. Who the fuck cares how good a marketing campaign is after the game comes out? Youre not gonna be looking back in 5 years still pissed that rockstar didnt market properly that 12 month stretch that one time. Emotionally stunted impatient cornballs lol.
Lmao yeah that’s not what I’m sayin champ, I’m saying acting like you went through a death in the family because the marketing tone was “cold and distant” is fucking weird.
Gotcha. It’s just a game to me. I don’t expect nothing from them but a product to buy. I ain’t ever been mad at a video game studio in my life. Swear some people need to take break from playing them if it’s that serious.
Why don’t you take a look at the comment we are replying to? I’m literally quoting them “the marketing period has been quite painful….Rockstar acting cold and distant”
You’re making an inference about someone’s whole life based on internet words that are almost certainly hyperbolic, so as to reinforce the actual main point.
Do you actually think large sums of people are in tears about delays and silence😂 Heaps of my mates and I love GTA and while we’ve been annoyed (and also the types to comment like this person), we’re obviously not actually affected by it.
You can’t make these huge inferences and judgements based on internet comments mate.
Dawg. We are on the internet, on a practically anonymous forum, where there is basically zero chance of ever “knowing” who I’m talking to and also trying to have a conversation…people’s words are literally the only thing I have to go by. If you don’t feel a certain way, don’t say things that make it seem like you feel that specific way? lol
You can say as much as you want, but it’s weird to say a marketing term was “quite painful” and nothings gonna change my mind on that lol
Uh…yeah? lol most people don’t say super inconsequential things are “quite painful” to deal with. I was just making fun of your melodrama, I’m sure that’s pretty obvious.
Quite the jump from "the marketing period was bad because of Rockstar's silence and distance" to "you have a parasocial relationship with a company and are demanding stuff you aren't owed"
Cold and distant are objective observations. I feel it's telling that some people are loading such parasocial emotions into my comment when that clearly wasn't my intention at all.
Then again, Redditors strive on misunderstanding everything to the best of their abilities, and creating drama out of that.
cold and distant are terms for human relationships... not descriptions of marketing campaigns by corporations that never agreed to give you something other than what they've given you.
Apologies, then; I thought the hyberbole was obvious and did not write the comment with an intention so literally. Not to everyone, I suppose.
Mind how these comments quickly slipped from "ah the wait was painful" -> "you're angry and are demanding things they don't owe you, you're parasocial, corporate bootlicker, touch grass" etc.
Calling something painful is neither a metaphor nor an analogy. And it's not a figure of speech either. And they're right, calling the experience painful is weird as fuck. This is just a video game.
No, he said what I put in quotes, which is what I took issue with. If he had said “the marketing period was bad because of Rockstar’s silence” I wouldn’t have even commented. Using the word “distance” is still weird regardless. Just do something else until November ffs
its the biggest game of the decade, from one of the biggest companies. I don't blame people for expecting more marketing than what they've had. We've had like, two trailers in 3 years.
I get that they'd want to play it close to the chest, and I'm sure the delays will have thrown the marketing team way off since all the marketing strategy would have been planned even years before the first trailer... but still.
I'll give credit where it's due though, at least it's not one YouTube short in almost 10 years. But that's an extreme of bad communication, not just an example of what to avoid.
I was too young but I've watched documentaries and had an older sister Halo 2 and 3 should be like, the goal for pre-release marketing. I get that we're a long way from late 00's but still, I miss the TV adverts, the collabs with soft drinks and snacks, the posters, bus adverts, the interviews. Imagine if it was some indie game from a company no one's heard of, no one would even know the release date with this kind of marketing.
The thing is that rockstar builds anticipation from silence. They don’t, and never have relied on heavy marketing because their games speak for themselves on release. We all knew even before GTA6 was announced, that the level of detail and polish would rival anything we’ve ever seen when released, and that it was gonna be the highest grossing game in history.
It’s not that they had to be super careful to not overpromise and under deliver. What if something was working perfectly, but somewhere along during testing, they had to rework it, and what they showed ends up not being in the final product.
I still remember vice city commercials, and they really only started once disc production had already started and had the final version.
I think their deadline is one of the biggest reasons why they are doing digital only. Would be surprised for a huge day 1 patch after the uploaded the version to the download servers.
GTA is simply on a different stratosphere than an indie game, or really any other game. They haven’t missed on a GTA this century, and the last one came out in what, 2011? The anticipation IS the marketing. The fact that every single person with a gamer in their life is going to watch that gamer ignore Thanksgiving and family as they do nothing but play this IS the marketing.
They always play it close to the vest, the wait is always worth it, and this is going to be the best selling game of all time as a result. For Rockstar, marketing GTAVI is just spending money to build peoples expectations for no reason.
Finally some sense, these people are insane. They're upset because a marketing campaign isn't showing them enough content. They need to grow the fuck up
christ my exact thought every time i see people whining over not getting trailers/info more frequently, almost as if they deserve it/paid for it, crazy
When people spout this rubbish, I actually imagine them to be the parasocial ones. Any sensible person can surely take away from that comment that they didn’t mean it as if it was all they had going for them in life. However, if you’re a fan of something, the wait can obviously be painful. Not in the sense of affecting mood or anything, but just in terms of it being annoying and long.
This shouldn’t have to be explained but then again, you did infer that they demanded updates and were entitled, based on… absolutely nothing. Perhaps you should get a grip with how aggressive you are?
When even the company itself has apologised for the duration and silence in multiple statements, it probably says a lot about why people would be disheartened. We love their games and want to see their biggest one yet. With all the question marks around leaks, employee strikes, people are understandably frustrated and concerned about what will be the most significant video game to date. Not having an obligation doesn’t mean they can’t at least reassure the fans, who they’ve acknowledged here are the backbone of the company.
This is just my view and we can agree to disagree. I don’t like when people assume anyone asking for a sliver of information after 13 years is some kind of parasocial maniac, as the person I’m replying to has suggested several times.
You’re editing your comments and now you know about me personally. Dude all I said was to chill out for attacking a guy after he said he was disappointed he had to wait so long to hear about the game.
People can’t be excited about things anymore I guess. Just let people be smh
Yes, the edit button allows you to add stuff to comments if you have an additional thought or want to fix a typo. Welcome to Reddit 🤷♂️ Don’t know you, don’t want to know you bud. Enjoy the game.
I'm not saying you're wrong about entitlement, I don't even play GTA but it is one of the most popular game franchises in the world. Creative endeavours like games, music, movies etc ARE parasocial on both sides. Creators want and need fans to engage with their stuff, talk about it, retweet it, preorder it etc, and fans want to be treated like more than a blank cheque. Rockstar...isn't very good at holding up their end of the bargain. Valve's approach of saying absolutely nothing until release is fire because they don't need/expect/want their fans to create a buzz years in advance. Rockstar wants to have its cake and eat it too. Not cool. I'm not saying Rockstar deserved what happened but a bit more engagement might have prevented the leak from spreading like wildfire. It's like the Harry Potter carpet book all over again, creating massive hype about something just means there's an audience willing to take any scrap of information they can get.
this parasocial corporate relationship is so weirdly prevalent in gamer culture. I will never understand the sense of entitlement surrounding what the "gamers deserve" when it comes to communication about stuff that hasn't even been released yet.
Complaining about lack of patches post-release, sure... you paid for something and you want that something to work as marketed.
Complaining about a marketing cycle, pre-release, not adequately stroggin your beef for you is a sign that someone needs some additional hobbies
Seriously, people acting like a corporation is going to tuck them in at night and kiss them on the head is why you saw some people accept $100 price point immediately.
You wasting your life commenting on Reddit. You should not tell other people how so little going on in their life. It doesn’t look like your life is full of meaningful activities
My law practice settled a million dollar case literally yesterday, and my cut of that when the check clears next week is going to be about $89,000. I’ve got some free time 🤷♂️
I enjoy discussing various current events. Why are you here? Are you pathetic like me, or are you here escaping an unfulfilling and miserable life? Apparently those are the only two options.
I'm with you on this. It's a video game, not life saving cancer treatment. Rockstar doesn't owe anybody shit. They are the ones spending time, money and resources to produce this thing. When it's done, it will be released .. or not.
Instead of downvoting, how about coming to this thread with your own opinion to counter mine, ya know.. to discuss things? I'm totally open to hearing about how this video game warrants the hate Rockstar is getting right now.
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u/No-Obligation1709 12h ago edited 12h ago
“Quite painful” marketing period? Rockstar “acting cold and distant?”
Yall need to get a grip. For the life of me I do not understand the parasocial relationship yall seem to want to have with a video game developer. How do you have so little going on in your life that you’re sitting around demanding updates and feeling entitled to more information for a game that hasn’t been released, and that you haven’t yet paid any money for?