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

The team behind the contentious Grand Theft Auto 6 parody, Grand Taking Ages, has made a comeback with a new Steam page following its removal from the PlayStation Store by Sony.

Grand Taking Ages is described by its creators as a satirical management simulator where players take on the role of running a game development studio.

Last month, despite utilizing what appeared to be AI-generated art to poke fun at the prolonged anticipation for Rockstar’s GTA 6, and including a list of improbable gameplay features along with fake awards from gaming websites, Grand Taking Ages VI managed to appear on the PlayStation Store with a slated release date of May 2025. Users were even able to add the game to their wishlists on PlayStation.

As expected, Sony removed Grand Taking Ages VI from its store. However, the game has now resurfaced on Steam after its creators, Violarte, claimed they made significant modifications to satisfy Valve's standards.

Grand Taking Ages returns, now available on Steam. Developer Violarte informed IGN that Grand Taking Ages underwent a "thorough" review process and has been approved for publication on Steam. The Steam page now features a fresh trailer and updated screenshots, emphasizing the parody aspect that Violarte uses to justify the project.

What has changed? Apart from dropping the "VI" from the game's title, Violarte has revamped the logo, descriptions, and overall aesthetics "to clearly differentiate Grand Taking Ages from the original inspiration, GTA 6, and to highlight its unique direction." The previous art, which bore a striking resemblance to Rockstar’s iconic GTA imagery, has been replaced with new art that still echoes the GTA style but to a lesser extent.

Despite these changes, Grand Taking Ages continues to employ generative AI extensively. Following Steam’s AI disclosure rules, Violarte has indicated on the game's Steam page that "AI services" were used for voiceovers — a fact that becomes evident upon watching the trailer.

Here’s the updated description from the Grand Taking Ages Steam page:

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 took a distinct approach with Valve compared to their strategy with Sony. “We approached Steam differently by engaging with their team about the concept of our game before officially submitting it,” a representative told IGN. “This allowed us to get their perspective early on, ensuring alignment with their guidelines.”

The company referenced other projects like Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary about two out-of-work actors staging a production of Hamlet within GTA Online, as evidence that GTA parodies should be safeguarded against takedowns. “These examples showcase how parody can celebrate and entertain within existing genres while remaining creative and engaging,” Violarte stated.

Grand Taking Ages leverages generative AI for its trailer voiceover. Violarte is now pushing for Grand Taking Ages to be reinstated on the PlayStation Store. “We genuinely believe that, with the recent updates, Grand Taking Ages is now ready to be relisted on the PlayStation Store,” they said. To support their case, Violarte has reached out to Sony, highlighting the modifications that led to Valve's approval for a Steam release. “We strongly believe that there will be no issues with Sony this time, given the adjustments we've implemented,” Violarte asserted.

The initial listing of Grand Taking Ages VI on the PlayStation Store raised questions about Sony’s curation process. In contrast, Valve’s more lenient approach on Steam is well-known. Various digital stores, including Steam, app stores, and even the Nintendo eShop, are increasingly filled with content, much of which now incorporates generative AI.

Meanwhile, GTA 6 is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S in the fall of 2025.