GTA 6is still slated for a 2025 release, though when exactly it will grace players' screens is still a mystery; no specific date has been revealed. In the meantime, fans of open-world crime games have a bevy of promising titles to choose from, and for those who have exhausted the usual suspects,likeCyberpunk 2077andSleeping Dogs, the upcomingMindseyecould be a good stopgap.
Mindseyeis currently hurtling towards a June release date, and whileGTA 6has yet to announce a firm launch date of its own, it’s highly unlikely that it will drop before then—the biggest game of the year will probably demand a longer breathing period to accommodate marketing, pre-orders, et cetera. As the debut title from Build a Rocket Boy, a breakout studio founded by former Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies,Mindseyecan be assumed to share at least a little bit of DNA with theGTAseries, and its urban open-world setting makes comparisons even more reasonable. With any luck,Mindseyewill appeal to both fans and non-fans ofGTA, making it a good game to check out ahead ofGTA 6.
Rockstar North is only one chapter of Rockstar Games, and has headed up the development of mostGTAgames, while working as a support studio for projects likeMax Payne 3andRed Dead Redemption.
Why Grand Theft Auto Fans Shouldn’t Sleep On Mindseye
Mindseye Looks Like Cyberpunk 2077 Crossed with GTA
Described as a “single-player, action-adventure thriller,“Mindseyewill transport playersto the fictional futuristic city of Redrock, a technocratic metropolis that appears to be loosely based on real-world cities like Phoenix and Albuquerque. Redrock is highly reminiscent of so-called “smart cities,” which focus on leveraging technology to provide the safest, most convenient, and healthiest experience for their citizens. But asMindseyewill likely argue, what’s “best” for citizens is anything but an objective truth, and it’s not a concept that’s immune to corruption.
Filling the shoes of ex-solider Jacob Diaz,Mindseyeplayers will be caught in the crossfire between Mayor Shiva Vega and billionaire tech mogul Marco Silva, who struggle for control over ever-advancing artificial intelligence. It’s a fairly interesting, if not entirely original, premise for a video game story, and it promises to provide action-packed thrills and thought-provoking social commentary in equal measure—a dichotomy thatMindseyeshares with thesatirical, over-the-topGrand Theft Autogames.
This narrative will unfold in a large open-world, which players can explore on foot or by vehicle, in a manner highly familiar toGTAfans. Hopefully, Benzies' experience working on theGTAfranchise will translate toMindseye’s world design, as this is often among the strongest pillars of any givenGTAtitle.
Mindseye Will Need To Be More Than Just High-Tech GTA
Whether it was Build a Rocket Boy’s intention or not,Mindseyereleasing in 2025 puts it in direct competition withGTA 6, which isn’t exactly a contest most developers want to find themselves in. Indeed, while games likeSleeping Dogsand theMafiafranchise prove thatalternatives toGTA—that is, open-world, cinematic crime games—are possible, reaching the same critical or commercial heights of Rockstar’s flagship franchise is another story. In a nutshell, Rockstar has the resources, prestige, and pedigree to make one-of-a-kind open-world action titles, so any game vying forGTA’s crown is facing an uphill battle.
In light of this,Mindseyeshould strive to find its own identity, lest it be unfavorably compared toGTA 6. Thankfully, this appears to be exactly what Build a Rocket Boy is trying to do, asMindseyeseems much more serious andaction-oriented thanGTA, and its radically different premise is a key point of difference as well. Hopefully, this originality translates to the gameplay.
MindsEye
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Jacob Diaz, a former soldier with a mysterious neural implant who is suffering from memory loss and flashbacks. Set out on a series of dangerous covert missions to unlock the secrets of your past in a world filled with the persistent threat of artificial intelligence, high tech experimentation, corporate espionage, political corruption, and an unchecked military.MindsEye is an immersive experience with a mind-bending complex narrative, rich environments, groundbreaking combat, future tech, and high speed chases.
