Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has stated that Grand Theft Auto 6 skipping a PC launch aligns with Rockstar’s historical release strategy. However, he also acknowledged that PC gaming is a growing platform, suggesting that the game will eventually land on PC.
GTA 6’s Staggered Release Strategy
February 5 marked the 14-month anniversary of the GTA 6 reveal trailer, which has since garnered nearly 240 million views on YouTube. The highly anticipated game was only announced for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with no mention of a PC version in its first trailer.
In an interview with IGN, Zelnick addressed concerns over the absence of a PC release at launch, stating, “We don’t always go across all platforms simultaneously.” He further elaborated, “Historically, Rockstar has started with some platforms and then historically moved to other platforms.” This statement reinforces expectations that a PC version of GTA 6 will follow at a later date.
Take-Two Expects GTA 6 to Boost Console Sales
Zelnick also recognized PC as an increasingly significant platform, noting that Take-Two’s data indicates PC accounts for approximately 40% of multi-platform game sales. Despite concerns over slowing console sales, Zelnick remains optimistic. He emphasized that major AAA releases have historically driven hardware sales, and he expects GTA 6 to follow suit. He also mentioned that 2025 console sales could see an uptick, bolstered by other high-profile releases from Take-Two and competing publishers.
A Look at GTA’s Console-to-PC Release Timeline
Rockstar has a long-standing tradition of delaying its PC releases, as shown in the table below:
| Game | First Console Release | PC Release | Console-to-PC Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTA | November 28, 1997 | November 28, 1997 | N/A |
| GTA 2 | October 22, 1999 | October 22, 1999 | N/A |
| GTA 3 | October 23, 2001 | May 20, 2002 | 6 months, 27 days |
| GTA: Vice City | October 29, 2002 | May 12, 2003 | 6 months, 13 days |
| GTA: San Andreas | October 26, 2004 | June 7, 2005 | 7 months, 12 days |
| GTA 4 | April 29, 2008 | December 2, 2008 | 7 months, 3 days |
| GTA 5 | September 17, 2013 | April 14, 2015 | 1 year, 6 months, 28 days |
| GTA 6 | Late 2025 | TBA | TBA |
Many fans had hoped GTA 6 would break this cycle and launch on PC simultaneously with consoles. While Take-Two’s current plan maintains the status quo, the company has recently shown more openness to simultaneous multi-platform releases. Notably, Civilization 7 is set to launch simultaneously on PC and consoles, a first for the franchise.
How Long Will PC Gamers Have to Wait?
Given Rockstar’s past release patterns, a PC version of GTA 6 might not arrive until 2027. If this timeline holds, the release could coincide with the dawn of the next console generation, which analysts predict may begin as early as late 2027.
For now, PC gamers will have to wait patiently, with Rockstar likely focusing on maximizing sales for the console versions before expanding to other platforms.
