Crime Boss: Rockay City — Everything We Know

You may find it hard to believe, as well as a tough pill to swallow, but Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 2 isn't going to be coming anytime soon. Fortunately for us, though, Crime Boss: Rockay City, an all-new and evidently bonkers first-person shooter, will be around to tide us over for all the while Rockstar Games continue to squeeze the life out of Grand Theft Auto V. And if you can even begin to fathom a world that pays tribute to an all-star cast featuring Chuck Norris and Vanilla Ice, then boy, you're in for a real treat with this one.

So, what do we actually know about this low-key love letter to Cyberpunk 2077, Grand Theft Auto, and Payday? Well, here's everything we've been able to pull from its creators since first being announced back in 2022.

What Is Crime Boss: Rockay City?

Crime Boss: Rockay City is an upcoming first-person action-adventure game by Ingame Studios, a Czech Republic-based company that formed back in 2020. Its USP, arguably, is its cast of characters, which includes the likes of Michael Madsen, Chuck Norris, Vanilla Ice, and Danny Trejo, all of whom will front an explosive Hollywood-esque 90s drama that sees various criminal factions bidding for the crown as the next overlord of Rockay City.

Featuring a non-linear story, Crime Boss: Rockay City will give you the keys to an open world full of opportunities. As Baker, an extremely ambitious up-and-coming gangster, you will need to form a crew of your own, use it to eliminate the competition, and ultimately the monopoly in which the whole city wants to take a chunk out of.

Story

Crime Boss transports you to the center of Rockay City, a criminal underworld in which every thug, thief, and mastermind wants to monopolize for the sake of claiming its cash, perks, and influence. As just one of the many budding throne seekers in the city, you must develop a gang of your own, and in turn use it to whittle down the rival gangs' reputation, territories, and source of income.

“After the demise of the previous crime boss, there’s an open vacancy for a new King of Rockay City – but it isn’t just you who is fighting for the throne,” the official blurb reads. “Choose your crew based on their skills and expertise, and execute daring missions with the hopes of walking away with the cash, the turf and, ultimately, the crown.”

Gameplay

If you can picture the basic structure of Payday, and then add the likes of Chuck Norris to it, then you'll no doubt have a vague idea of what Crime Boss: Rockay City's gameplay will entail. And if not, then we can only describe it as being a bullet-riddled first-person shooter, one that features a variety of criminal activities that can either be tackled alone, or with up to four friends in the game's online co-op PvE mode.

“Play as Baker as he builds his empire using strategy, cunning and a little fire power to carry out heists and take territory from rival gangs,” the Epic Games Store listing reads in part. “Winning the turf war won’t be easy though – between Dollar Dragon, Hielo, Cagnali and Khan trying to take the city for themselves, and Sheriff Norris aiming to stop you all in your tracks, this roguelike campaign will reward and punish in equal measure.”

“Stealing everything from cash and drugs, through to priceless artifacts is more fun with accomplices,” the description continues. “Jump into the PVE co-op multiplayer and take on thrilling hits and heists with up to four players. Fail and you leave empty handed, but succeed and you’ll find yourself richly rewarded.”

Development

Crime Boss: Rockay City is being developed by Ingame Studios and 505 Games. The game itself was first revealed during The Game Awards, which aired back in December 2022. Since then, its star-studded cast has drew the eyes of millions, and has, as a result, put the project up as one of the most anticipated games of 2023. As for what will come of it is anybody's guess, though if its gameplay is on par with its roster, then one can only imagine the treats that lay in wait.

Trailers

The good news is, there is, in fact, a trailer for Crime Boss: Rockay City. Better yet, there are actually two trailers of Crime Boss: Rockay City, both of which showcase some of the game's all-star roster and a slew of its gameplay features. Curious to see more? You can catch the initial announcement trailer in the video above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Crime Boss: Rockay City will be coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via the Epic Games Store on March 28, 2023. Will there be a Switch port? Well, given the game's graphic-intensive design, it seems somewhat unlikely, what with the console's history of struggling to run most triple-A games. That said, it isn't exactly an impossible feat to accomplish, either, and therefore the idea of it being optimized for ex-gen consoles and Switch shouldn't be discarded just yet.

Unfortunately, there hasn't been any news on the game coming to Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus. This is subject to change, though at present, it's doubtful that either platform will be rolling out the red carpet for it until at least nine to twelve months after its official launch.

For more information on the Crime Boss: Rockay City launch, be sure to check in with the official social handle here. We'll be sure to let you know of any new details should they come to light between now and March 28th.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Crime Boss: Rockay City when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.