The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated for a fall 2025 release, but it's only coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. This decision has left PC gamers feeling left out, which seems out of touch in the current gaming landscape where PC is increasingly crucial for a game's success. Is this a strategic error on Rockstar's part, or are they sticking to their tried-and-true launch strategy?
IGN posed this very question to Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, ahead of their financial results. Zelnick hinted at an eventual PC release for GTA 6, drawing parallels with other titles in their lineup. "With Civ 7, it's available on console, PC, and Switch right away," he noted, before adding, "With regard to others in our lineup, we don't always go across all platforms simultaneously. Historically, Rockstar has started with some platforms and then historically moved to other platforms."
Rockstar's past reluctance to launch games on PC at the same time as consoles, coupled with their sometimes rocky relationship with the modding community, has set expectations low for a simultaneous release. Yet, fans had hoped that GTA 6 might mark a change in this approach due to its monumental scale. Historically, big Rockstar titles do make it to PC, but the wait could extend well into 2026 or beyond given the fall 2025 console release window.
In December 2023, a former Rockstar developer tried to shed light on why GTA 6 would not launch on PC alongside consoles, urging PC gamers to be patient and give the studio the "benefit of the doubt." But the question remains: Is this delay a missed opportunity? Zelnick revealed that PC versions of multiplatform games can account for up to 40% of total sales, and sometimes even more.
This discussion comes at a time when sales of the current console generation (PS5 and Xbox Series X and S) are declining, and neither Sony nor Microsoft have announced next-gen consoles yet, though Nintendo's Switch 2 is on the horizon. Zelnick emphasized the growing importance of the PC market, stating, "We have seen PC become a much more and more important part of what used to be a console business, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that trend continue. Of course, there will be a new console generation."
Zelnick is confident that GTA 6, potentially the biggest entertainment launch ever, will boost console sales in 2025. "When you have a big title in the market and we have many of them coming, historically that has sold consoles," he said, predicting a meaningful uptick in console sales due to the upcoming release schedule, not just from Take-Two but from other publishers as well.
The PlayStation 5 Pro is being eyed as a potential 'GTA 6 machine,' with hopes it will offer the best gameplay experience. However, tech experts believe that even the PS5 Pro might not achieve the coveted 4K at 60 frames per second for GTA 6.
