GTA 6 might outperform every work of media ever except the Bible says Chernobyl and The Last of Us writer Craig Mazin

With Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) on the horizon, anticipation over Rockstar Games' new release has reached record heights. Hollywood writer Craig Mazin has now joined the frenzy, claiming GTA 6 has the potential to become the best-selling item of media ever, only behind the Bible. This is in line with the magnitude, cultural significance, and monetary expectations of one of the most highly anticipated titles in gaming history.


Craig Mazin, whose writing credits include HBO's Chernobyland The Last of Us, made his comments in an interview with Variety recently. According to him, GTA 6 might beat all other pieces of media ever made, excluding the Bible. As Mazin has it, "People are getting used to an interesting combination of handmade, super-attentive method of making things married to size, which again, makes things harder to do," pointing out that Rockstar's approach to game creation is setting the bar higher for the entire gaming industry.
Mazin's remarks come as GTA 6 is likely to sell more than 40 million copies in its first year alone, potentially making $3 billion in revenue. With those estimates, the game could compete with even the most popular movies, books, and TV releases. He also added that Hollywood is monitoring the release of the game "very carefully," highlighting the wider media industry's interest in Rockstar's next major move.

Even with the enormous success of GTA, one wonders why no film or TV adaptation of the series has been released. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says that game adaptations for TV and film are hardly profitable. Although there are exceptions such as The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, he posits these are anomalies amidst numerous money-losing efforts.
Zelnick's conservative approach is further supported by Take-Two's experience on the Borderlands film, which failed despite having a big-name cast. The fallout has apparently discouraged studios from collaborating on future game-related projects, including with Rockstar's IPs.
Craig Mazin's dramatic comparison might seem hyperbolic, but it captures the immense cultural and business heft that GTA 6 represents. If Rockstar fulfills expectations, the game not only might transform the video game industry but leave a lasting legacy in world entertainment, short of the most widely disseminated book on the planet.
Also Read: How players are becoming creators with user-generated content in GTA 6