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

The team behind the controversial parody game Grand Taking Ages, which pokes fun at the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6, has returned with a Steam page following its removal from the PlayStation Store by Sony. The game, created by Violarte, is a satirical management simulator where players take on the role of running a game development studio.

Last month, Grand Taking Ages VI briefly appeared on the PlayStation Store with a release date set for May 2025. Despite featuring AI-generated art and a list of far-fetched gameplay features, along with fake awards from gaming websites, users were able to wishlist the game. However, Sony quickly pulled it from their store. Now, after making significant adjustments, Violarte has successfully launched Grand Taking Ages on Steam.

Violarte explained to IGN that the game underwent a thorough review process before being approved for publishing on Steam. The Steam page now includes a new trailer and updated screenshots, emphasizing the game's parody nature. Key changes include removing the "VI" from the title, altering the logo, and modifying the game's descriptions and overall presentation to differentiate it more clearly from GTA 6 while still maintaining a parody angle.

Despite these changes, Grand Taking Ages continues to use generative AI, particularly for its voice overs, as disclosed on the Steam page. The new game description on Steam 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's approach with Valve was different from their strategy with Sony. They engaged with Valve's team early on to discuss the game's concept, ensuring alignment with Steam's guidelines before official submission. Violarte also cited other parody projects, like Grand Theft Hamlet, to argue that their game should be protected from takedowns.

Looking forward, Violarte hopes to see Grand Taking Ages reinstated on the PlayStation Store. They have reached out to Sony, highlighting the changes that convinced Valve to approve the game for Steam, expressing confidence that these adjustments will resolve any previous issues with Sony.

The brief appearance of Grand Taking Ages VI on the PlayStation Store raised questions about Sony's curation process. Meanwhile, Valve's more open policy on Steam is well-known, allowing for a broader range of content, including games that utilize generative AI.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in the fall of 2025.