Grand Theft Auto 6 is inevitable, and it's just a matter of time before the next crime saga is released. Rockstar Games' series has been hugely popular for years, with each iteration in the series bringing something new to the table for gamers to enjoy. While a new sequel might be high on fans' wish lists, it could be some time before a new GTA is released. Rockstar is known to take its time when developing games and doesn't adhere to traditional marketing efforts at events such as E3, Tokyo Game Show, and other big industry events. Rockstar Games might not have much incentive to make Grand Theft Auto 6 just yet.
The last entry in the Grand Theft Auto series came in 2013, with Grand Theft Auto 5. The multi-protagonist crime game has been extremely popular since its release and shows no signs of slowing down. Despite the sustained popularity of GTA 5, Grand Theft Auto 6 has been subject to countless rumors and leaks. As always, rumors and leaks should be taken with a grain of salt until there's official confirmation, but it goes to show that the next game has been on the minds of gamers. Unfortunately for some, there could be quite a wait yet for GTA 6.
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It was confirmed in 2020 that a next-generation version of Grand Theft Auto 5 is coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Rockstar has mentioned that it will benefit from performance and visual upgrades, but there aren't more specific details on the next-gen version of GTA 5. There is no confirmed release date for it other than a rough estimate of the second half of 2021.
Due to how imminent this release could be, it's reasonable that this could be the next big project Rockstar is working on and the team will likely support this for some time to come after release. A project of the presumed size of Grand Theft Auto 6 would likely take up a huge chunk of resources, making it unlikely that Rockstar is entirely focusing on it at the moment.
Paired with the next-generation release of GTA 5 is a standalone release of Grand Theft Auto Online. The online GTA game continues to be extremely popular to this day, and the multiplayer mode is likely going to receive additional support. Launching on the new generation of consoles could open doors for the game to receive a sizeable addition to its already large audience. GTA Online is set to launch for free on PS5 for its first three months of availability after launch, potentially bringing a new influx of fans. Rockstar will likely want to support GTA Online as long as it remains popular, which could mean the developer is in no rush to proceed with Grand Theft Auto 6.
Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA Online continue to be extremely popular even years after release. So much so that 2020 was a record year for GTA Online in particular, with the multiplayer game setting a new record for its largest player count yet.
While a lot of GTA fans are clamoring for Grand Theft Auto 6, it continues to be unlikely to happen any time soon due to the financial gain from the current versions of Grand Theft Auto and its online mode. Based on the report from Rockstar that 2020 was a record year, this would suggest that its popularity hasn't even begun to plateau. The future continues to seem bright from Grand Theft Auto Online, and Rockstar is likely to reap the rewards from it for some time.
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Role-playing servers have contributed hugely to a resurgence in GTA Online's popularity. For those who are unfamiliar, role-playing or RP servers encourage gamers to embody their characters and engage with other players while in character. This isn't unlike tabletop role-playing games where the players are tasked with performing as their characters.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is the second best-selling game of all time, right behind Minecraft. The game has managed to outpace industry tentpoles like Tetris and Pokemon Red and Blue. What's more, the game continues to sell well to this day. It's a common occurrence for Grand Theft Auto 5 to re-enter the charts of top-selling games, which is a huge feat considering the game was originally released in September 2013. As long as Grand Theft Auto 5 sees sustained success to this level, it's hard to imagine that Rockstar would press on with Grand Theft Auto 6 while there is success to be made from the last major iteration of the series.
Grand Theft Auto Online specifically has been a huge source of success for Rockstar. The online multiplayer mode is set to get its own standalone release to make it easier for players to start experiencing the online component, according to Rockstar. A standalone GTA Online release could see Rockstar gain even more followers and financial success. Much like the base Grand Theft Auto 5 game, the online mode is enduringly successful and regularly features new content for players to experience. With so much life left in the online mode, Rockstar is unlikely to move past it any time soon.
Grand Theft Auto 6 will likely continue to see rumors until some official news is revealed on the much-anticipated title. Considering how long-lasting the success of Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA Online has been, it feels unlikely to some gamers Grand Theft Auto 6 will get news any time soon. Rockstar continues to see sustained success with the current GTA titles, making it more unlikely that the developer would want to go full steam ahead with the next Grand Theft Auto game.
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