AI
Jun 18, 2026 Major2
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Startup Founder Creates Unofficial GTA 6 Clone Using AI Generative Technology
Ziwen Xu, founder of startup Hyperecho, launched a project on June 11, 2026, to create an unofficial clone of Grand Theft Auto 6 using Anthropic's Claude 20x generative AI model. His stated goal is to release the game before Rockstar Games' official November 2026 launch. Despite early progress, including improved visual details by day six, the project faces challenges such as AI-generated location inaccuracies and high computation costs.




Quick Facts
Who
Ziwen Xu
What
creating an unofficial GTA 6 clone using generative AI
When
June 11, 2026 (project start)
Where
GitHub
- creating an unofficial GTA 6 clone using generative AI
- using vibe coding with Claude 20x model
- sharing source code on GitHub
- setting a target to beat official launch
- Ziwen Xu
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.
Topics
Why This Matters
This project demonstrates the potential—and limitations—of generative AI in game development, offering a DIY alternative for players eager to try a new GTA experience months before the official release. For competitors and investors, it signals that AI could lower barriers to game creation but also raises questions about intellectual property and sustainability of AI-generated content.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 11, 2026
WireZiwen Xu starts the unofficial GTA 6 clone project using Claude 20x
Jun 12, 2026
WireXu shares video showing human-like character in an urban landscape
Jun 17, 2026
WireXu provides update on day six; game now includes NPCs, cars, and weapons
Nov 1, 2026
WireScheduled official launch of GTA 6 by Rockstar Games