(*6*)
What occurs to GTA Online when Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out? That’s a query a lot of GTA Online gamers have been asking ever since GTA 6 was introduced. And now, as GTA 6’s fall 2025 launch date approaches, they’re no nearer to a solution.
GTA Online is Rockstar’s vastly worthwhile reside service that continues to pull in gamers even now, nicely over a decade since launch. Its enduring enchantment and talent to print cash is believed to have influenced Rockstar’s determination to prioritize the reside service over story DLC for Grand Theft Auto 5, a lot to the annoyance of some followers. However there’s a extra urgent concern looming over the horizon.
When GTA 6 ultimately comes out, it’s anticipated to convey with it a new and improved GTA Online. Maybe this might be GTA Online 2. Maybe will probably be referred to as GTA Online, as earlier than. Both approach, gamers of the current GTA Online have expressed concern that every one their time, effort, and cash spent in the present GTA Online might be left behind for a potential clear break later this 12 months.
So, why make investments money and time into GTA Online now, in early 2025, when the new GTA Online is probably due out in maybe eight months or so? That’s a query IGN put to Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick throughout a current interview forward of the firm’s third-quarter monetary report, and his reply makes for attention-grabbing studying.
Whereas Zenick wouldn’t be drawn particularly on any new GTA Online as a result of it has but to be introduced, he did discuss usually about Take-Two’s kind when it got here to NBA 2K Online, a free-to-play online-focused model of 2K Sports activities’ vastly profitable basketball franchise geared toward the Asian market.
NBA 2K Online launched all the approach again in 2012, after which 2K Sports activities launched NBA 2K Online 2 in 2017. Each video games had been maintained concurrently, so followers of the first model may proceed to play and make investments their money and time protected in the data they wouldn’t be left behind.
“I am going to converse theoretically solely as a result of I am not going to discuss a specific venture when an announcement hasn’t been made,” Zelnick started. “However usually talking, we assist our properties when the shoppers are concerned with these titles. For example, we launched NBA 2K Online in China, I believe initially in 2012 if I am not mistaken. After which we launched NBA 2K Online 2 in China in 2017. If I am not mistaken. We didn’t sundown Online 1. They each are nonetheless in the market they usually serve shoppers they usually’re alive and we now have this large viewers.
“So we have proven a willingness to assist legacy titles when a group needs to be engaged with them.”
That final line is of specific significance. It suggests — however doesn’t verify at this stage — that if there’s a GTA Online 2, it received’t come at the price of GTA Online falling by the wayside. If folks preserve taking part in GTA Online, Zelnick is suggesting right here, then Rockstar will proceed to assist it.
It’s value noting that there’s nonetheless a enormous quantity we do now find out about GTA 6, given all we’ve had up to now is Trailer 1 and a launch window. But when GTA 6 is unquestionably due out fall 2025, probably after Borderlands 4’s just-announced September launch date, Rockstar may have to reveal extra sooner somewhat than later. In the meantime, take a look at Zelnick’s feedback on whether or not skipping PC for GTA 6’s launch is a mistake.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You may attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.