In the ever-evolving landscape of gaming anticipation, few achievements carry as much weight as winning the Golden Joystick Awards’ “Most Wanted Game” category. Now, Grand Theft Auto 6 has etched its name into gaming history by joining an elite fraternity previously occupied by only two other titans: Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This remarkable accomplishment speaks volumes about not just the hype surrounding Rockstar’s upcoming masterpiece, but also about the shifting dynamics of player expectations in modern gaming.
The Unprecedented Achievement That Shook the Gaming World
When the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 crowned GTA 6 as the Most Wanted Game for the second consecutive year, it wasn’t just another trophy for Rockstar’s already crowded cabinet. This victory marked a rare feat that only three games in the award’s 22-year history have ever accomplished: winning the prestigious category two years in a row. The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated, as it places GTA 6 in the same conversation as two of gaming’s most ambitious and talked-about releases.
The Golden Joystick Awards introduced the Most Wanted Game category back in 2003, though it has worn various names over the years—from “Most Anticipated Game” and “The One to Watch” to its current incarnation. Throughout its history, the award has served as a barometer for gaming community excitement, often predicting which titles would dominate the cultural conversation years before their actual release.
Understanding the Exclusive Club: A Tale of Three Gaming Giants
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2013-2014) – The Trailblazer
CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was the first game to achieve this consecutive win, taking home the trophy in both 2013 and 2014. What makes this achievement particularly noteworthy is that The Witcher 3 ultimately delivered on its massive hype, launching in 2015 to critical acclaim and eventually being regarded as one of the greatest games ever made. Despite some minor launch issues that are typical of ambitious open-world titles, The Witcher 3 set a new standard for narrative depth and world-building in RPGs.
The game’s success story serves as the positive benchmark in this exclusive club—a title that generated unprecedented anticipation and ultimately exceeded expectations, proving that massive hype doesn’t always lead to disappointment.
Cyberpunk 2077 (2018-2019) – The Cautionary Tale
Cyberpunk 2077’s back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019 tell a different story altogether. Like GTA 6, CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi epic faced multiple delays, building anticipation to fever pitch levels. However, unlike The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077’s launch in December 2020 became infamous for its technical issues, particularly on last-generation consoles.
The game was so plagued with bugs and performance problems that CD Projekt Red had to issue apologies, offer refunds, and spend years patching and improving the experience. While Cyberpunk 2077 has since evolved into a much better game through updates and expansions, its launch remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of overhyping a product to the point where expectations become nearly impossible to meet.
GTA 6 (2024-2025) – The Current Champion
Now, GTA 6 stands at the crossroads of these two narratives. Having won the Most Wanted Game award in both 2024 and 2025, Rockstar’s upcoming title carries the weight of unprecedented expectations. The game has already been delayed multiple times, with the current release date set for November 2026—a full year later than originally planned.
What makes GTA 6’s situation particularly fascinating is the parallel many observers are drawing to Cyberpunk 2077’s journey. Both games generated massive hype, faced significant delays, and won consecutive Most Wanted Game awards. However, Rockstar’s reputation for polish and perfection suggests a different outcome, though the gaming community remains cautiously optimistic.
The Golden Joystick Legacy: A Historical Perspective
To truly appreciate the significance of GTA 6’s achievement, it’s worth examining the complete history of the Most Wanted Game category. Since its inception in 2003, the award has been won by gaming’s biggest names, including:
- Half-Life 2 (2003)
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2004)
- Fallout 3 (2008)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
- Grand Theft Auto 5 (2012)
- God of War Ragnarok (2020)
- Elden Ring (2021)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2022)
What makes the consecutive wins so remarkable is that, in an industry where attention spans are short and new contenders emerge constantly, maintaining the top spot for two consecutive years requires something truly special. It suggests a level of anticipation that transcends normal hype cycles and enters the realm of cultural phenomena.
The Pressure Cooker: What This Means for Rockstar Games?
Winning the Most Wanted Game award twice in a row is both an honor and a burden. For Rockstar Games, this achievement comes with immense pressure to deliver a product that justifies the unprecedented level of anticipation. The studio is already known for its perfectionist approach and willingness to delay games to ensure quality, but the stakes have never been higher.
Several factors contribute to this pressure:
The Cyberpunk Shadow
The gaming community hasn’t forgotten Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch, and many are drawing parallels between that situation and GTA 6’s development cycle. CD Projekt Red themselves have acknowledged this, with representatives noting that “nobody wants another Night City situation.” This comparison looms large over Rockstar’s development process.
The Rockstar Reputation
Rockstar Games has built its reputation on delivering polished, genre-defining experiences. From Grand Theft Auto IV and V to Red Dead Redemption 2, the studio has consistently raised the bar for open-world gaming. This track record creates both high expectations and a safety net—players trust Rockstar to deliver, but they also expect nothing less than perfection.
The Financial Stakes
With analysts predicting GTA 6 could generate over $2 billion in revenue, the financial stakes are enormous. The game’s success or failure could impact not just Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive, but the broader gaming industry’s approach to AAA development and marketing.
Fan Reactions: Between Excitement and Anxiety
The gaming community’s response to GTA 6’s consecutive wins has been a fascinating mix of excitement and anxiety. On one hand, fans are thrilled to see their most anticipated game receiving such recognition. On the other hand, the Cyberpunk 2077 parallels have created a sense of nervous anticipation.
Social media and gaming forums are filled with discussions about:
- Whether Rockstar can avoid the pitfalls that befell Cyberpunk 2077
- The implications of multiple delays on the final product quality
- How GTA 6 might innovate within the open-world genre
- The potential impact on the gaming industry if GTA 6 fails to meet expectations
This dichotomy reflects a broader trend in modern gaming culture, where enthusiasm and skepticism often go hand in hand, particularly for titles with as much hype as GTA 6.
Industry Impact: Beyond Just One Game
GTA 6’s achievement and the surrounding discussion have implications that extend far beyond a single game. The situation highlights several important trends in the gaming industry:
The Hype Economy
Modern gaming has evolved into a hype economy where anticipation itself has become a form of currency. Games can generate significant revenue and cultural impact long before their actual release through merchandise, partnerships, and media coverage. GTA 6’s consecutive wins demonstrate the peak of this phenomenon.
The Delay Dilemma
The relationship between delays and quality has become increasingly complex. While delays often lead to better products, they also build expectations to potentially unsustainable levels. GTA 6’s multiple delays have created a situation where the game must be nearly perfect to justify the extended wait.
Industry-Wide Scheduling
The impact of GTA 6’s development schedule has already affected other publishers and developers. Many are reportedly adjusting their release calendars to avoid competing with Rockstar’s juggernaut, recognizing that going up against GTA 6 would be “suicide” for most titles.
What Comes Next: The Future of Gaming Anticipation
As we look toward GTA 6’s eventual release in November 2026, several questions emerge about the future of gaming anticipation and the Most Wanted Game category:
Could There Be a Three-Time Winner?
The most intriguing question is whether any game could ever win the Most Wanted Game award three years in a row. If GTA 6 faces another delay into 2027, it would have a legitimate shot at this unprecedented achievement. However, such a scenario would also raise concerns about development problems and potentially damage player confidence.
The Next Generation of Contenders
Looking ahead, several upcoming titles could potentially join this exclusive club:
- The Witcher 4 (already generating significant buzz)
- Red Dead Redemption 3 (if officially announced)
- Elder Scrolls VI (whenever it finally emerges)
The Evolution of Player Expectations
GTA 6’s development journey and eventual reception will likely influence how the industry approaches AAA development for years to come. The lessons learned—both positive and negative—will shape everything from marketing strategies to development timelines.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment in Gaming History
GTA 6’s entry into the exclusive club of consecutive Most Wanted Game winners alongside Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 represents more than just another accolade. It marks a defining moment in gaming history, where anticipation, development challenges, and player expectations have converged to create unprecedented pressure on a single title.
As we await GTA 6’s release, the gaming community finds itself in a unique position—simultaneously excited by the potential of Rockstar’s next masterpiece and mindful of the lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch. The outcome will not only determine GTA 6’s place in gaming history but could also influence how the industry approaches AAA development for years to come.
Whether GTA 6 follows The Witcher 3’s path to critical acclaim or Cyberpunk 2077’s rocky road to redemption, one thing is certain: its journey to this point has already secured its place in gaming history. The exclusive club of consecutive Most Wanted Game winners remains small, but its impact on the industry and gaming culture continues to grow with each new member.