Everywhere: From Grand Theft Auto’s DNA to a World of Creativity and Calm

The name Leslie Benzies is synonymous with the urban chaos, sprawling open worlds, and satirical violence of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. As the former president of Rockstar North and a lead developer on nearly every major GTA title from GTA III to GTA V, his influence on the series is immeasurable. So when he announced the formation of his new studio, Build A Rocket Boy, and his new game, the world expected another violent, open-world crime epic. Instead, Benzies and his team are creating something that is, in almost every conceivable way, the exact opposite of what made him famous. The game is titled Everywhere, and it’s a free-to-play, multi-genre platform that puts a heavy emphasis on user-generated content, collaboration, and a vibrant, friendly community, a world away from the gritty streets of Los Santos.

The vision for Everywhere is ambitious, to say the least. It’s a platform designed to be a hub for creativity, a space where players can not only play games but also create them. The core of the game is its powerful in-game creation suite, which allows players to design and build their own “ARCs”—miniature games, social spaces, and experiences that can be shared and played by others. This concept, reminiscent of Roblox or Fortnite’s Creative Mode, positions Everywhere as less of a single game and more of an expansive, ever-evolving metaverse. The game is a stark departure from the traditional single-player or structured multiplayer experiences that have defined Benzies’s past work.

A Creative Canvas, Not a Crime Sandbox

The philosophy behind Everywhere is a direct contrast to the one that shaped Grand Theft Auto. While GTA revels in its violent, open-ended mayhem, Everywhere promotes a positive, community-driven experience. Its central hub city, “Utropia,” is a bright, futuristic metropolis that serves as a launchpad for different activities and player-created worlds. Rather than carjacking and bank heists, the activities are centered around racing, combat, and social interaction. However, even these elements are presented with a softer, more stylized approach, a world away from the visceral, realistic violence of its predecessor. The game’s focus is on creation, not destruction, and on building, not breaking. The core of the game is its user-friendly creation tool, which allows anyone to create and share their own creations, making it an accessible platform for aspiring game developers of all skill levels.

• Player-Driven Content: The game’s success hinges on the creativity of its community. Players can use the in-game tools to build their own games, social hubs, and even narrative experiences. This ensures that the world of Everywhere is constantly growing and changing.
• Collaboration and Sharing: The game allows players to easily share their creations and even borrow assets and ideas from others. This encourages a collaborative ecosystem where players can build on each other’s work, creating larger, more complex experiences.
• A New Kind of Monetization: The game is free-to-play, which is a key decision to ensure its accessibility to a wide audience. Its revenue model is built on cosmetic items and a “battle pass” system, similar to other successful online games, which is a far cry from the single-purchase model of a traditional AAA title.

The Test of Ambition

While the vision for Everywhere is incredibly promising, it also faces a monumental challenge. The game is entering a crowded market dominated by established players like Roblox and Fortnite, both of which have massive, dedicated communities and robust creation tools. Benzies and his team must not only deliver a polished experience but also convince players to invest their time and creative energy into a brand-new platform. The success of Everywhere will ultimately depend on its community. If it can foster a vibrant and creative user base, it could become a major new player in the market. However, if it fails to gain traction, it could be seen as a platform that came too late to the party.

In a surprising twist, Benzies’s new game, MindsEye, a cinematic conspiracy thriller, is being developed to exist exclusively within Everywhere. This is a brilliant strategic move that both showcases the power of the platform and provides a professional-grade, narrative-driven experience for players to enjoy. It’s a bold statement that proves that even the most ambitious projects can find a home within the ever-expanding world of Everywhere. For now, the game is a fascinating experiment, a testament to a developer’s willingness to step out of his comfort zone and into a world of pure, unadulterated creativity. It’s the antithesis of everything we’ve come to expect from a GTA veteran, and it is all the more intriguing for it.