5 reasons why GTA 6's release won't end support for GTA Online

With GTA 6's release date getting closer, Grand Theft Auto Online fans are wondering if Rockstar will be ending support for the massively multiplayer online game. However, this is unlikely to be true. For starters, the online mode of Grand Theft Auto 5 is too profitable to discontinue, with many active players who will likely keep playing the game even after Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out.

In light of that, we have listed five arguments in favor of the theory that Grand Theft Auto Online won't be impacted by the release of GTA 6.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.

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Why GTA 6's release doesn't mean the end for GTA Online

1) Online mode has an immense number of players

There are still plenty of active players in Grand Theft Auto Online, and this increases whenever Rockstar launches a new DLC. A reason for the large number of players is the game's availability on multiple platforms, which include PCs, the PlayStation 4 and 5, as well as the Xbox One and Series X|S. Another fact is that Grand Theft Auto 5 continues to be one of the best-selling games of all time.

Even if Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out, this number is unlikely to come down immediately. For instance, according to SteamDB, the game had 156,455 players on Steam as of August 7, 2024, with a 24-hour peak of 181,546. This is just on PC alone and the fact remains that console players make up a vast number of the title's player base.

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2) More DLCs are expected

Bottom Dollar Bounties was a divisive update (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar might be preparing for a few more Grand Theft Auto Online DLCs even after GTA 6 comes out. The latest content update, titled Bottom Dollar Bounties, added a new type of property, some more purchasable police cars, and some other vehicles as well, which only goes to show that the devs are still engaged in the game.

Rockstar has been releasing two DLCs every year since 2019, and this trend is expected to continue for at least a couple more years. Since the Grand Theft Auto Online player base won't die out immediately, the developers are likely to consider this fact and send out updates even after the next GTA game is released.

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3) GTA 6 may not launch with an online mode

Grand Theft Auto 5 didn't release alongside its multiplayer counterpart, GTA Online, and the same is likely to be true for the upcoming game as well. The fact that there are still so many active players in Grand Theft Auto Online means that Rockstar will want to delay releasing a multiplayer mode for Grand Theft Auto VI.

As such, players who buy the game will probably be busy with the single-player story mode, which will give Rockstar enough time to prepare for the new online mode.

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4) Grand Theft Auto 6 will be exclusive to next-gen on launch

Rockstar is only focused on next-gen consoles for now (Image via Rockstar Games)

It should be noted that Grand Theft Auto 6, which is scheduled to release in Fall 2025, is only coming out on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. On the other hand, Grand Theft Auto fans aren't just restricted to these consoles. As mentioned before, there are several players on last-gen consoles (PS4 and Xbox One), as well as on PC.

This means that last-gen players will probably keep playing Grand Theft Auto Online until they can upgrade. Meanwhile, PC players will have to wait a little more to access the new game.

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5) GTA+'s success will likely keep the game running

As per a recent Take-Two earnings report, GTA+ has been quite successful, as the membership for this subscription service has been on the rise. While Grand Theft Auto Plus includes several more games apart from Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer game has been at the forefront of promoting this service.

Take-Two will naturally want to take advantage of this for as long as possible, which means that Grand Theft Auto Online will stay active even after Grand Theft Auto 6 is launched.

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