Startup Founder Creates Unofficial GTA 6 Clone Using AI Generative Technology

A startup founder has launched an ambitious project to create an unofficial version of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 using generative artificial intelligence, months ahead of the official release by Rockstar Games. Ziwen Xu, founder of the startup Hyperecho, began developing the clone on June 11, 2026, motivated by impatience with the game's scheduled launch in November 2026.

Xu is utilizing a programming technique known as "vibe coding" powered by Claude 20x, the most advanced generative AI model from Anthropic currently available to the public. To ensure transparency, he has been regularly sharing updates and uploading the project's source code to GitHub, allowing other developers to access or continue the work.

"Targetnya: mengalahkan peluncuran GTA 6 yang sebenarnya. Ambisius, mungkin bodoh, tapi saya tetap akan melakukannya," Xu wrote in a post on X, as quoted by Gizmodo on June 17, 2026. Translated, his statement reads: "The target: to beat the actual launch of GTA 6. Ambitious, maybe stupid, but I'll still do it."

The project faces significant technical hurdles. Early gameplay footage shared by Xu showed only a simple 3D blue oval moving and jumping near gray blocks. By the second day, the character had evolved into a human-like figure running through an urban landscape. However, the AI mistakenly built skyscrapers in a city resembling Los Angeles instead of the intended Florida setting. Xu also noted that he had already consumed 33% of his weekly usage quota for the Claude 20x model within a single day.

By the sixth day of the project, the game had expanded considerably, featuring non-playable characters (NPCs) walking around, cars on the roads, and even weapons. Xu still has several months to work on the project before the official GTA 6 launch in November, though the extent of his long-term commitment remains unknown.