Despite suing Rockstar’s parent company and creating a rival open-world game, Leslie Benzies—one of GTA’s masterminds—is just as hyped as the rest of us about GTA 6. The developer has nothing but praise for his former team while building his own world.

Leslie Benzies, one of the creative forces behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise, parted ways with Rockstar in 2016 under highly public circumstances, including a $150 million lawsuit. Yet, nearly ten years later, Benzies openly shows admiration for the studio he once took to court. Now heading the Build a Rocket Boy studio and overseeing the development of MindsEye, he’s made it clear he’s just as excited about GTA 6 as any fan. In his words, his former Rockstar colleagues are “geniuses.”

Speaking with Gaming Bible, Benzies acknowledged that his upcoming project is likely to be compared to Rockstar’s massive IP. Still, he stressed that he’s focused on forging his own creative identity. “It’s like when Dave Grohl started Foo Fighters and everyone kept asking him about Nirvana. We’ll need time to build something that stands on its own,” he said. That didn’t stop him from expressing his enthusiasm for Rockstar’s next title: “I can’t wait to play it. Everyone at Rockstar is a genius.”

Rocky History Between Benzies and Rockstar

His praise may seem surprising given the rocky past between him and the company. In 2016, Benzies sued Rockstar, claiming he was forced out and demanding $150 million in unpaid royalties. He also accused the company of damaging his reputation by labeling his behavior as toxic. Although the courts largely ruled in Rockstar’s favor, Benzies was ultimately entitled to some compensation, and the two parties settled in 2019.

Today, his focus is on the future: MindsEye and Everywhere, the interconnected MMO that serves as its foundation. According to Benzies, content created by players in Everywhere will be integrated into MindsEye, a story-driven game about a mercenary with amnesia unraveling a mystery tied to advanced experiments.

Meanwhile, GTA 6 remains one of the most highly anticipated titles of the decade. Rockstar has yet to release a second trailer or confirm more details, but the gaming world continues to watch closely—Benzies included. Even those who helped build the franchise are waiting with eager anticipation.

Source: 3djuegos