Grand Theft Auto 6 is planned to launch later this year, and there are still plenty of questions that developer Rockstar has yet to answer. With only one trailer revealed, the cinematic sneak peek at GTA 6 brought record-breaking views to YouTube, with many eager to find out more about the game's planned story. There are many questions floating about, but one of the biggest ones is whether GTA 6 will feature its own online component or not.
GTA Online launched a few weeks after GTA 5, and it has continued to have a massive following. The multiplayer mode's freedom allows players to roleplay and wreak havoc outside the base story of GTA 5, and there are expectations for GTA 6 to feature its own counterpart. This feels highly likely, and if it comes to fruition, one of the most exciting aspects is that any improved role-playing features are bound to directly affect the next Red Dead Redemption.
Steven Ogg Has an Idea for Trevor to Appear in GTA 6
Trevor actor Steven Ogg shares an idea for how infamous GTA 5 character Trevor could appear in Grand Theft Auto 6.
Features Included in GTA 6 and Its Online Mode Set the Stage For What to Expect From RDR3
There has been a back-and-forth between Red Dead Redemption and GTA when it comes to expected mechanics and immersion features. For example, a long-running theory among many Rockstar fans has been that the short Guarma level of RDR2 was used as a testing ground for GTA 6 because of its seemingly random place in the story. The tropical setting of Guarma would indeed be a fitting way to practice crafting a more lifelike version of Vice City and the Florida-inspired state of Leonida, but this still has never been officially confirmed. However, improvements and changes made to each Rockstar game have quickly become ways for players to predict what may be the new standard for future Rockstar titles, and GTA 6 is likely to continue this tradition.
Whatever fresh role-playing features GTA 6 and its online version bring forth are bound to be the starting point for RDR3 and its online companion, if there ever is one. A new online version of Red Dead Redemption may be less likely than GTA 6 having one, but regardless, a potential RDR3 will almost certainly carry over anything that makes GTA 6's immersion even greater than its predecessors.
GTA 6's first, and currently only, trailer was released on December 4, 2023, after it leaked online a day early.
Everything Confirmed About GTA 6
- Set in Vice City
- Features two protagonists, Lucia and an unnamed male protagonist (who leaks refer to as Jason)
- Expected to be the biggest GTA map yet
- Confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
- Slated for a fall 2025 release date
In the coming months, there will likely be word from Rockstar about whether GTA 6 will feature an online mode or not, but it would be surprising if it's the latter. GTA 5's introduction of online gameplay boasted strong role-playing, and this level of immersion is what made RDR2 such a joy to play for a lot of gamers.
It remains to be seen how GTA 6 plans to one-up RDR2's realism, but the expectations are high. Likewise, whatever role-playing upgrades GTA 6 brings to players will only increase the expectations for RDR3, but it could also pave the way for plenty of innovations.
As of now, it's unclear if GTA 6 will come to PC this year.
The Excitement For GTA 6 Has Reached Its Apex
With no clear sign of more announcements on the horizon, many are growing antsy, eager for more insight. Fresh news could arrive any day, and that makes the anxiety and excitement that much more palpable. 2025's release schedule is both daunting and thrilling, and GTA 6 is at the top of a lot of lists of the most anticipated games. As fans continue to craft theories about GTA 6, only time will tell when Rockstar reveals more. When that day finally comes, though, it will be fascinating to finally dive into the game's upgraded role-playing features.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- November 19, 2026
- ESRB
- Rating Pending - Likely Mature 17+
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.
Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive.
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
- Franchise
- Grand Theft Auto
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
