Why GTA 6 won’t be released for PC at launch
GTA 6 will be released this November for PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S. Although past experience suggests it will eventually be released for PC, it won’t be available at launch alongside the console versions. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told Bloomberg that Rockstar Games is known for releasing GTA games on consoles first and then to publish it on the PC. That’s because with such a game you are measured by whether you have served the core target group.
“It’s about truly serving the core customer. If the core customer isn’t there, if they aren’t the priority and aren’t served in the best possible way, then you basically can’t reach your other customers.”
Zelnick also dismissed the theory that Sony’s co-marketing deal with Rockstar Games was the reason GTA 6 wasn’t released on PC. “No,” Zelnick said. “Rockstar has always released console versions first in the past.”
In the interview, Zelnick also spoke about how important the PC market is today compared to the past. When he joined Take-Two in 2007, PC sales, according to him, accounted for only about 5% of the total revenue of the NBA 2K series. That has changed dramatically since then. “For a major title, PC sales can now represent 45 to 50% of revenue,” he said.
Releasing GTA 6 on PC after the consoles could trigger a second sales cycle for the game, potentially leading some to buy it twice. “We’ll see how it goes,” said Zelnick. He even stated that by 2025, the PC would have become a more important platform than before, prompting some to speculate that GTA 6 would launch on PC, but that won’t be the case.
In 2023, a former Rockstar developer put forward a theory as to why GTA 6 wouldn’t be released for PC at launch. Mike York, who worked on Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, said that Rockstar wanted to “focus on its best-selling titles.” In the interview, Zelnick also said that while he was excited, he was also anxious about the release of GTA 6 because expectations were so high.
In fact, the game is expected to sell 40 million copies and generate over $3 billion in revenue in its first year. GTA 6 has big shoes to fill, as its predecessor GTA 5 sold over 225 million copies and generated many times that amount in revenue with GTA Online.
All GTA 6 gameplay activities
Rockstar has already released screenshots of GTA 6 showing some activities not included in the trailer.
However, it’s possible that these activities won’t be playable in the final game. Previous GTA titles offered players many everyday activities, such as driving a taxi or playing basketball. We expect GTA 6 to follow a similar approach, but we won’t know for sure until Rockstar confirms the details. Until then, these are simply potential gameplay activities.
One of the first scenes in the latest trailer shows Jason Duval working out on the beach, reminiscent of the fitness options in GTA: San Andreas. If Jason’s appearance depends on how much weight he can lift, are there consequences if players don’t give him the time to train?
Based on the trailer and official screenshots from Rockstar, the following images show possible gameplay activities for GTA 6.
Construction worker Jason
Jason’s first appearance in the trailer reveals that, in addition to his illegal activities, he also possesses legitimate skills. Roof repairs as a building contractor might not sound particularly appealing, but they could serve as a cover for him to later search for stolen goods in various locations.
Bodybuilding
In GTA: San Andreas, players had to keep Carl “CJ” Johnson in shape, otherwise his physical condition would deteriorate rapidly. Will Jason be subject to the same conditions in GTA 6?
Robbery
It simply wouldn’t be a GTA game if you couldn’t steal money. This time, Jason appears to be taking cash directly from a grocery store’s register. It’s probably not a huge win for Jason, but it could be a reliable source of small in-game earnings.
Bank robbery
The real money could come from a bank. This bank robbery appears to be a story mission in the game, but GTA 6 could offer players a more complex heist scenario than its predecessors. We simply don’t know if it’s a one-off bank robbery or if it can be repeated. Heists, however, were a significant part of GTA 5 and GTA Online.
Drug smuggling
Jason’s other job is smuggling drugs. Like the bank robbery, this is likely a story-driven mission.
Civil service
Attentive viewers noticed that Lucia Caminos was wearing an ankle monitor in the trailer upon her release from prison. She was later seen wearing a community service vest when she reunited with Jason after a long day. A community service minigame might not be particularly exciting on its own, but it can still be fun in a typical Shenmue way.
Drinking games
There are some deleted scenes with Jason and Lucia, which possibly means that drinking games will be included.
Underground MMA
Lucia is briefly seen punching an opponent in an MMA-style ring. She has the necessary techniques, but will she be able to compete against multiple opponents in an underground fighting circuit?
Jet Skiing
You can’t rob and shoot people 24/7. In one of the last scenes of the trailer, Jason and Lucia are seen riding a jet ski.
Kayaking
This was one of the images Rockstar shared. Kayaking is a surprising option for a GTA game, but we’re ready to give it a try!
Mini Golf
Rockstar also announced a mini-golf option. Since the company has already developed a table tennis game, we’re curious to see how this will be implemented in the GTA 6 engine.
Fishing
It looks like Jason might go fishing too, but will he keep his catch or throw it back?
Pool
A game of billiards would feel right at home in the GTA universe.
Basketball
Is basketball making a comeback in GTA? A basketball arena can be seen in the distance in the lower left corner of this screenshot.
Hunting
Rockstar has plenty of experience integrating hunting in the Red Dead Redemption games and GTA 5. If hunting returns in GTA 6, we’d be curious to see if the developers have come up with any new tricks.
Gator Shootout
Normally we’d say that’s typical Florida. But since the GTA world has its own names for the states, we say it’s typical Leonidas.
Motocross
It looks like there might be a chance to participate in a motocross race against other participants.
Dive
In some early GTA games, the player character died if they fell into water. However, GTA 5 offered diving, and this great screenshot suggests that it will make a comeback in GTA 6.
It remains to be seen what GTA 6 will cost at launch, but Bank of America suggested Rockstar should charge $80 (€68) to encourage other publishers to raise their prices as well. GTA 6 will be released on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Developer Rockstar has not yet announced a price, but Zelnick recently said the game would be offered at a “reasonable” price, whatever that may mean.
