Grand Theft Idiots Launches With 27 Players and a Shopping Mall Full of Problems
Grand Theft Idiots launched on Steam on October 19, 2026, with a promising idea: rob a shopping mall, sabotage your friends and steal everything that isn't nailed down. Unfortunately, the biggest robbery might be happening at checkout. As of October 28, just 5 of its 19 Steam reviews were positive, with players complaining about poor performance and a remarkable lack of things to do.
Which is a shame, because the concept is genuinely entertaining. Developed by BlackScale, Grand Theft Idiots supports up to 12 players stealing valuables while avoiding security guards and interfering with each other using stun guns, fire alarms and shopping carts. Cooperation is possible, although the game has devised an excellent way of discouraging it. Whoever last carried an item before extraction gets the money.
Imagine stealing an expensive television, dragging the bloody thing through a shopping centre while security chases you, only for some opportunistic bastard to grab it three feet from the getaway van and collect your reward. You've risked arrest, suffered a hernia and done all the work, while Kevin, who spent the entire operation scratching his arse, gets promoted to Chief Financial Officer. It's practically a documentary about modern capitalism.
Grand Theft Idiots sounds promising, but its launch hasn't exactly inspired confidence. If you'd rather rob something without gambling on the game itself, check out the 25 best heist games you can play right now. Some of these criminals can actually finish a job.
A multiplayer game with a slight shortage of players
Unfortunately, Grand Theft Idiots has encountered a fundamental obstacle to its multiplayer ambitions. According to SteamDB, its all-time peak was just 27 concurrent players, while its recorded 24-hour peak on October 28 was four. Four people in a game designed for twelve. You could assemble a larger criminal organisation by accidentally inviting the wrong people to a WhatsApp group.
The reviews aren't particularly encouraging either. Several players report poor optimisation, including one claiming roughly 40 FPS on a supposedly capable machine. Another says the available content can be exhausted in approximately half an hour. These are individual reports from a tiny community, but with 14 of the first 19 reviews negative, dismissing the reception would require optimism normally reserved for people buying used BMWs without checking the service history.
Still fancy the idea of twelve idiots attempting organised crime? See how Teardown handles 12-player heists, where teamwork involves explosives, collapsing buildings and trusting people who probably shouldn't be allowed near a toaster.
Apparently, the main shopping mall missed the grand opening
To BlackScale's credit, the developer hasn't simply released the game and fled the country disguised as a Belgian customs officer. Updates arrived almost immediately, addressing loading times, tutorials, security guards, bots and matchmaking. But there's a considerably bigger issue.
On October 24, BlackScale revealed that Fairview, originally intended as the game's main map, wasn't ready for launch. Instead, players received Pacific Mall while development continued on a larger environment featuring over 30 stores, suburban districts and roaming police.
Imagine opening a supermarket and explaining to your first customers that the actual supermarket is coming next week. For now, there's a trolley, two shelves and a security guard called Brian. Please enjoy your shopping experience.
BlackScale hoped to release Fairview within approximately a week of its October 24 announcement, although that wasn't a confirmed date. The larger map could address complaints about limited content, but there's little reason to recommend buying the game before its condition improves.
After all, getting robbed is supposed to happen inside the game.
If shopping-mall robberies aren't satisfying your criminal ambitions, explore CRIMENET's Heist headquarters for bank robberies, elaborate thefts and criminal crews whose carefully constructed plans usually survive about eleven seconds.
Grand Theft Idiots FAQ
Is Grand Theft Idiots worth buying?
Not yet. Early Steam reviews report poor performance and limited content. Waiting for further updates, particularly the larger Fairview map, seems sensible.
Can you play Grand Theft Idiots solo?
Yes. The game includes bots, allowing you to play without a full group. However, its main attraction is stealing from and sabotaging other players.
How many players does Grand Theft Idiots support?
Grand Theft Idiots supports up to 12 players in multiplayer heists.
What is the Fairview update?
Fairview is a larger map featuring more than 30 stores, suburban districts and roaming police. It was originally intended for launch but was delayed. At the time of the developer's October 24 announcement, no firm release date was confirmed.
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