Two former Rockstar Games insiders have claimed the studio axed Bully 2 for a third time in 2017, all in an effort to focus on the development of Grand Theft Auto VI and Red Dead Redemption 2. Bully's original 2006 release was mired in controversy, much of it undeserved. However, nothing has stopped fans from patiently awaiting its hopeful return in the form of a sequel. For years, rumors have circulated that Rockstar has indeed pursued this particular project; still, there's just nothing to show for it.
The most recent of such rumors hit the airwaves back in the fall of 2019. According to an unsubstantiated report, Rockstar co-founder and former writer Dan Ho penned a script for Bully 2 in 2008 with a small crew of developers. The studio managed to craft a playable build, but the project ultimately fell to the cutting room floor due to a lack of progress and the company's focus on other endeavors. Interestingly, this seems in line with the latest batch of Bully 2-centric claims.
According to a GTA Forums post (via DualShockers) from former Rockstar insider Tez2, the studio began pre-production on Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2015. Within a couple of years, Tez2 alleges, the project entered full production. However, this momentum slowed to a halt because of an increased focus on Red Dead Redemption 2 and Bully's sequel. The former insider then goes on to note, "[Bully 2] was canned in 2017, so I presume they did that to focus on GTA VI." This detail eventually made its way to the GamingLeaksAndRumors subreddit, where another former insider, Yan2295, said of Tez2's comment, "yeah, he's right."
As always, the above statements should be taken with a grain of salt. At the time of writing, there exists nothing concrete to suggest this information is based in fact. If the comments are indeed accurate, though, it's highly unlikely Rockstar will confirm as much, given its notorious secrecy. Plus, how many Bully 2 rumors have been proven incorrect already?
GTA 6 isn't rumor-free, either. In addition to these latest claims that suggest it's the reason why Rockstar scrapped Bully 2, GTA 6 speculation hardly ever misses a chance to sit front and center. Yet, the studio remains silent about the project. A report from Jason Schreier earlier in the year alleged the next GTA entry is in the works at Rockstar; however, it could still be years out from release. Schreier's reporting also insisted the project would mark a departure from the company's usual launch plans, as the team works to improve the internal work culture. Supposedly, this means GTA 6 will launch in a "moderately sized" fashion, while larger updates expand the experience post-launch.
Sources: GTA Forums, Reddit (via DualShockers)
