The impending release of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) in the fall of 2025 has sparked curiosity and concern among the dedicated players of GTA Online. As the release date nears, many are still seeking clarity on the fate of the current version of GTA Online, Rockstar's immensely successful live service that continues to attract players well over a decade after its launch. This enduring popularity and profitability have led Rockstar to focus on GTA Online over story-based DLC for Grand Theft Auto 5, a decision that has frustrated some fans. However, the looming question remains: what will happen to GTA Online when GTA 6 launches?
With GTA 6 expected to introduce a new version of GTA Online, possibly dubbed GTA Online 2, players are worried about the potential loss of their investments in the current game. The concern is whether their time, effort, and money will be rendered obsolete with the advent of a new iteration. This uncertainty poses a significant dilemma for players contemplating whether to continue investing in GTA Online in early 2025, especially with the new version potentially launching within eight months.
In a recent interview ahead of Take-Two's third-quarter financial report, IGN posed this very question to Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two. While Zelnick avoided specifics about any unannounced projects, he provided insights based on Take-Two's approach with NBA 2K Online. Launched in 2012 and followed by NBA 2K Online 2 in 2017, both versions of the game continue to be supported and played, suggesting a model where legacy titles are maintained alongside new releases.
Zelnick's response was theoretical but telling: "But generally speaking, we support our properties when the consumers are involved with those titles... We did not sunset Online 1. They both are still in the market and they serve consumers and they're alive and we have this massive audience. So we've shown a willingness to support legacy titles when a community wants to be engaged with them." This statement hints at the possibility that if the community continues to engage with the original GTA Online, Rockstar might keep it alive even after the release of GTA 6 and its new online component.
As we await more details about GTA 6, which so far has only been teased with Trailer 1 and a release window, the gaming community remains eager for further announcements. Rockstar will need to provide more information soon, especially considering other major releases like Borderlands 4 set for September 2025. In the meantime, Zelnick's comments on the potential of skipping a PC launch for GTA 6 continue to fuel discussions and debates within the gaming community.
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