Rockstar's Silence On GTA 6 For PC Is Deafening
Rockstar Games is keeping quiet about the PC release of "Grand Theft Auto 6," and fans aren't sure why. After teasing the trailer for the new game in November 2023, Rockstar Games has finally debuted the first look at "GTA 6." Unsurprisingly, the trailer for "GTA 6" broke the internet, garnering over 10 million views within just two hours of release. The trailer confirms that the sixth entry is set in Vice City and will feature two playable protagonists, who are still shrouded in mystery. Arguably the most eagerly awaited game of all time, "GTA 6" has what it takes to be one of the most profitable entries in the franchise. However, it's looking like it may have to earn all of that money on fewer platforms.
While the trailer fails to mention which consoles "GTA 6" will appear on, a press release from Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive Software (via Business Wire) confirms that the game will debut on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles in 2025. The press release doesn't mention a PC launch date at all. Unsurprisingly, "GTA" fans have taken to social media to voice their concern over Rockstar Games' silence.
"PC owners don't get to play GTA 6 on release day....i feel sorry for you guys," shared X user @Brandkiller21, for instance. These sentiments were echoed by X user @voreo_sabrae, who questioned Rockstar's move, writing, "All that hype for GTA VI and they don't even include a PC release in the announcement?" The press release may have simply mistakenly left out a mention of PCs, but for fans of the "GTA" franchise with PCs, the lack of clarity feels almost deafening.
GTA 6 follows an annoying Rockstar trend
There's a lot to be excited about today, but it's definitely frustrating that PC fans don't know when they'll be able to play "Grand Theft Auto 6." While the "GTA" games have always been extremely popular on PC, Rockstar Games famously didn't release "GTA 5" on the platform until 2015 — two years after the game debuted on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
At the time, the decision to delay the PC release of "GTA 5" was controversial. PC gamers eventually got to play "GTA 5" (and arguably the definitive version), but the wait felt long and almost cruel. Rockstar Games made a similar move with the release of "Red Redemption 2," releasing it on PC a year after it debuted on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. For some, the wait for a PC release is a non-negotiable. "Expected, but I still hoped for a PC release at the same time," wrote Reddit user u/-maken in the r/GTA6 fan subreddit. "Time to buy a console I'm not waiting a single second after the game drops in 2025," they continued. Others think this move is a cash grab move on Rockstar's part. X user @CazperStreams angrily wries, "how tf is gta 6 gonna be on console FIRST? they want us to buy console and pc version so we can play."
Why would Rockstar hold GTA 6 on PC?
Fans and industry analysts alike appear to be baffled by the decision to hold off on the game's PC release, even if not everyone is surprised by the move. TechRadar's Matt Hanson went so far as to say, "This confirmed my worst fears." Meanwhile, PC Gamer's Nick Evanson is one of many to call into question Rockstar's motives for the lack of a PC release, pointing out that there doesn't seem to be a reason why a team of Rockstar's size can't make a PC port that stands alongside its console brethren. "The truth is the lack of any details about a PC version of GTA 6 has nothing to do with anything technical, but is simply a marketing choice," writes Evanson. This seems to make sense from a business standpoint. Although Rockstar no doubt wants to get the game to as many players as possible, waiting between console and PC releases would afford the game a resurgence in popularity. "GTA 6 will be incredibly successful but no publisher is ever going to ignore an opportunity to get a second glut of income," Evanson argues.
While Rockstar Games hasn't explicitly confirmed a PC release, it's fair to say that "GTA 6" will no doubt be released on PC... eventually. "PC is 2026 bro we already know the playbook," suggests Reddit user u/Charlie-brownie666. Of course, anything could change between now and 2025. Maybe Rockstar Games could still debut the game on PC when it hits consoles. Hopefully fans won't have to wait two years for confirmation.