After more than a decade of anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI, the internet has found another reason to joke about Rockstar Games' lengthy development cycle. This time, the punchline comes from the scientific community: researchers have identified an entirely new species of wild cat before the highly anticipated game has finally arrived.

Scientists recently announced the discovery of Leopardus tilcayo, commonly known as the Tilcayo tiger cat, marking the first newly identified cat species in more than a century. The small spotted feline was found in Bolivia's lush Yungas Forest, adding a remarkable chapter to wildlife research while fueling the popular online meme: "We got this before GTA 6."

The breakthrough was published in the scientific journal Current Biology, where researchers described the elusive feline as being even smaller than a typical house cat, with distinctive rounded ears and beautifully patterned fur.

One of the study's co-authors, Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, told NBC News that the discovery happened almost by accident. While volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation center near La Paz, Bolivia, she noticed what appeared to be an unusually small kitten that had been brought in by a local resident.

The animal had been cared for with simple food, including rice and eggs, before its caretaker realized he could no longer look after it. Curious about its unusual appearance, scientists performed genetic testing—and the results were astonishing.

The DNA analysis confirmed that the animal was not a known species but an entirely new member of the wild cat family, a discovery that researchers say is exceptionally rare.

Scientists still don't know how many Tilcayo tiger cats remain in the wild, making conservation efforts a growing priority as researchers continue studying the species and its habitat.

The discovery also reignited one of gaming's longest-running jokes. Rockstar Games has been developing Grand Theft Auto VI since around 2015, and the extended wait has inspired countless memes highlighting the many historic events that have happened before the game's release.

Over the years, fans have joked that humanity witnessed global events, technological breakthroughs, space missions, and scientific discoveries—all before GTA 6 finally arrived. Even Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has acknowledged the viral memes, admitting that he's seen many of them circulating online.

Now, the discovery of an entirely new wild cat species has joined that growing list.

Fortunately for gamers, the wait is nearly over. Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, ending one of the longest and most talked-about development cycles in video game history.