GTA 6 Competitor Drops Extended Gameplay, Rockstar Has Real Competition

Grand Theft Auto VI is finally set to land this year, if it’s not subject to a third delay.

Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated release will (hopefully) see players flock to Vice City on 19 November.

There are, however, plenty of adjacent experiences you can jump into before then to scratch that GTA itch.

One of the most promising, in my opinion, is Samson: A Tyndalston Story, an upcoming noir action game that features a sprawling open-world.

It features the gang-fuelled action that Grand Theft Auto fans have come to adore over the years, which makes a lot of sense given that developer Liquid Swords features some ex Rockstar Games talent.

“Samson comes home to the worst streets of Tyndalston, a place that built him hard and never forgave him,” the synopsis teases.

“Muscle, speed, and nerve decide who stays upright. Close-quarters fights, tight corners, and no room for hesitation."

“He learned violence before he learned mercy, and the city hasn’t forgotten. Every clash matters. Every hit is meant to break or be broken."

“You cut through alleys, rooftops, and backroom dens designed to keep you moving, not sightseeing. Tyndalston shapes how you fight, climb, corner, and vanish. It’s familiar ground, but never safe ground.”

Samson: A Tyndalston Story, Credit / Liquid Swords

As you’ve likely gathered, you’ll engage in plenty of fights in Samson, whether that’s via the game’s ‘brawler combat’ system or vehicular warfare. Interestingly, the game appears to be absent of firearms.

There’s a skill tree, a reputation system that’ll see the police stay hot on your tail, and an ever-changing set of factions that’ll shape how the city runs.

“Uncover what broke Samson’s family and what it takes to fix it before time runs out,” devs tease.

Gameplay Delivers On The Promises Made So Far

The game has quietly been dropping gameplay snippets in recent weeks, with popular YouTuber MathChief collecting those together into one video which has left many gamers in awe of what’s to come.

“The second I saw the trailer it was on my wishlist,” commented one viewer.

“I love how gritty it is,” added another.

“Looks pretty cool,” read a remark.

Much of viewers’ excitement was outweighed by cautious trepidation with many commenting that they feared Samson might be a repeat of unplayable flops like The Day Before or MindsEye.

Personally, I’m a tad more optimistic. Liquid Swords was founded by Christofer Sundberg, the co-founder of Avalanche and the mind behind the Just Cause franchise.

Just Cause consistently delivered, especially when it came to offering jam-packed open-worlds. Seriously, Just Cause 2 and 3 are enormous.

Of course, a game’s success relies on more than just a solid founder; MindsEye was a failure despite Leslie Benzies’ involvement. In fact, devs say it was a failure precisely because of his involvement.

But call me an optimist, I’m more hopeful about what Samson has in store.

The game is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

An exact launch date hasn’t been confirmed, but it’s currently targeting “early 2026”, so there’s a probable chance we’ll see it land in the first half of the year.