Grand Theft Auto 6 saw the release of its debut trailer last night — earlier than publisher and developer Rockstar had planned — and with it confirmation of a 2025 release date. But it’s the platforms Rockstar has listed for GTA 6 at launch, notably only PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, that has sent shockwaves throughout the PC gaming community.
A cursory glance online at PC gaming communities, subreddits, and social spaces shows a mix of downbeat acceptance and shock that Rockstar plans to skip PC for GTA 6’s launch in this day and age.
The option is either waiting to play GTA 6 from 2026, or perhaps beyond, or buckle up and go for the famous Rockstar game double-dip.
That’s exactly what some fans have said they’re going to do now their worst fears have been realised. Over on the PC gaming subreddit, post after post bemoans Rockstar’s decision. “I'm not double-dipping. 2027 it is,” joked SilverDragon7. “I heard they also confirmed it for the PS6, PS7, and PS8,” added OctopusRoyalty.
There are plenty of serious comments from PC gamers angered by Rockstar’s decision. “Come on man! Even FromSoft releases it on PC. Hate Rockstar for this man, come on,” said Quirky-Football9043.
“Does this surprise me? No, considering their history. Do I think this is a brain-dead decision in 2023? Hell yes,” said FearlessButterfly3. “We got stiffed on Red Dead Remaster and now this. Thanks for nothing Rockstar,” said FrootLoop23.
PC users probably not get GTA 6 until or beyond 2026 #RockstarGames
— HazzadorGamin, Dragon of Dojima (@HazzadorGamin) December 5, 2023
This sucks. pic.twitter.com/AqAjXI7iqy
When you find out GTA 6 isn’t being released on PC ? pic.twitter.com/73gDP41gj8
— 2AM Scopz (@OfficialScopz) December 5, 2023
“Honestly, the way Rockstar treats PC players as second class citizens is a joke,” said teza789. “They release their games later, they recently updated the console versions of GTA 5 and ignored the PC version, and their parent company sue modders and threaten them. Not to mention modding tools like OPENIV have been shut down because of them. They don't care about PC players.”
“Did anyone expect different really?” asked Esseth. “PC will drop a year or two later like every one of their releases.”
Some PC gamers desperate for GTA 6 have even said they now plan to buy an entire new console to play at launch.
I'll actually have to buy a console if this is true
— Rob Read (@rob_read) December 5, 2023
Probably but I think ima buy a xbox to play it on release
— Johnathan Richter (@DaJackals) December 5, 2023
The upshot of all this is PC gamers face a lengthy wait to play perhaps one of the defining games of the generation — unless they bite the bullet and double-dip of course.
Rockstar has form when it comes to launching its games on console only, of course. Red Dead Redemption 2 launched on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One first, in October 2018, then on PC a year later.
Going back further, Grand Theft Auto 5 launched on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in September 2013 before launching on PS4 and Xbox One in November 2014, and it didn’t launch on PC until April 2015. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S versions also launched March 2022.
GTA 6 releases on 2025
— Alastair ? (@BenAaronFlynn) December 5, 2023
But not for PC?
Bye lol pic.twitter.com/Rj7gM3yS32
me when I found out GTA 6 wont be on PC till 2026 pic.twitter.com/0S973KuTIH
— VuxVux (@VuxxVuxx) December 5, 2023
And 2010’s Red Dead Redemption didn’t launch on PC at all. It came out on PS3 and Xbox 360 May 2010, then, in August this year, on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, leaving PC gamers hanging once again.
Rockstar is famously secretive and rarely explains itself, so it’s unclear exactly why it prefers to avoid the PC for its games at launch (IGN has asked for comment). Back in 2012, IGN asked Rockstar’s Dan Houser (who left the company he co-founded in 2020) why the team planned to skip the PC for the launch of GTA 5.
“Everything else is up for consideration," he replied. "That's all I can give you. The main thing is we are not... we are a third-party publisher. We're not Nintendo, we're not Sony, we're not Microsoft. We love all of them in different ways. But we can do what we want wherever there's the appropriate business opportunity and chance to find a market. If that's on Apple we put something on Apple. Wherever it might be.
“I think that's the fun in what we do. We see ourselves as a content company that uses technology. We don't make it; we use it to make the most fun stuff.”
I'll be 30 when GTA 6 releases for PC pic.twitter.com/EBVETLfRQP
— Trigon (@Parthoo09) December 5, 2023
Why is there no mention of GTA 6 dropping on PC? pic.twitter.com/Ezj8MZ7w18
— Jack (@J4CKMULL) December 5, 2023
And in August 2023, IGN asked Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive, about the lack of a PC version of the Red Dead Redemption port. Zelnick left it vague, saying he leaves game release announcements up to the developers.
The very first trailer for GTA 6 just dropped December 4, despite having originally been planned for today, December 5. Its official unveiling took place after the trailer unexpectedly leaked on social media, with Rockstar acknowledging the leak and posting the official version not long after. We've already catalogued a number of reactions to the trailer from across the games industry, and more keep pouring in.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
