The team behind the contentious Grand Theft Auto 6 parody, Grand Taking Ages, has re-emerged with a new Steam page after Sony removed it from the PlayStation Store.

Grand Taking Ages, developed by Violarte, is described as a parody management simulator where players manage a game development studio.

Last month, despite using what appeared to be AI-generated art to poke fun at the prolonged anticipation for Rockstar's GTA 6, along with a list of improbable gameplay features and faux awards from gaming websites, Grand Taking Ages VI made it onto the PlayStation Store with a slated release date of May 2025. Users could even wishlist the game on PlayStation.

Sony eventually delisted Grand Taking Ages VI from the PlayStation Store, but following significant modifications, it's now available on Steam, as confirmed by its creators.

Grand Taking Ages has returned, this time on Steam. Violarte informed IGN that the game underwent a "thorough" review process and is now approved for release on Steam. The Steam page features a new trailer and updated screenshots, reinforcing the parody theme that Violarte claims justifies the project.

So, what has changed? The "VI" has been dropped from the game's title, and Violarte has revamped the logo, descriptions, and overall presentation "to clearly differentiate Grand Taking Ages from the original inspiration, GTA 6, and to emphasize its unique direction." The art that mimicked Rockstar’s iconic GTA visuals has been replaced, though it still bears a resemblance.

Despite these changes, Grand Taking Ages continues to employ generative AI. In compliance with Steam's AI policies, Violarte disclosed on the Steam page that it used "AI services" for voiceovers, which is evident in 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 approached Valve differently than Sony when seeking approval for the game. "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."

Violarte referenced other projects like Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary about two unemployed actors staging Hamlet within GTA Online, to argue that GTA parodies should be protected from takedowns. "These examples showcase how parody can celebrate and entertain within existing genres while remaining creative and engaging," Violarte stated.

Grand Taking Ages utilizes generative AI for its trailer voiceover. Violarte is now seeking to have Grand Taking Ages 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 this end, Violarte has submitted a request to Sony, highlighting that the modifications made have 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 added.

The appearance of Grand Taking Ages VI on the PlayStation Store raised questions about Sony's curation process, while Valve's more open policy on Steam is well-known. The gaming marketplaces, including Steam, app stores, and the Nintendo eShop, are increasingly filled with content, much of which now uses generative AI.

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