Grand Theft Auto 6 will only be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S when it launches on November 19th, and there are many suspicions that this is a carefully thought-out strategy to get players to buy a console or buy the game twice when it finally comes out on PC. The wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 has been hitting fever pitch lately, as pre-orders and new footage have made Rockstar's long-awaited game feel closer than ever.
As exciting as it gets closer GTA 6 the release is that the game not launching for PC from the start is disappointing. Granted, this is definitely not unusual for Rockstar. GTA 5s PC port came out several months after its initial launch, and Red Dead Redemption 2 didn't come to PC until a full year after the console release. Not launching on PC alongside consoles has been Rockstar's MO for a long time now, but that hasn't stopped the suspicion that the developer is taking advantage GTA 6 hype to help the industry sell more consoles.
GTA 6 being a console game at launch will definitely tempt some gamers to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S
This definitely won't apply to all PC gamers, but there are plenty of people out there who are willing to fork over some cash for a console in order to play GTA 6 along with everyone else who gets to experience it at launch. FOMO will be intense with GTA 6and Rockstar, Sony and Xbox are more than likely banking on the feeling of being the only person not invited to the party. Between GTA 6 The Ultimate Edition locks extra in-game content behind paywalls and Rockstar prices the Standard Edition at $80, the game's cost has sparked a lot of debate online, and adding a console purchase to the mix only increases the wallet.
Reddit has been one of the best places to discuss GTA 6 in-depth for years now, and the idea that Rockstar is trying to push PC users into buying a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S is a pretty common line of thought. Former Rockstar producer John Ricchio recently stated in an interview with Reece 'Kiwi Talkz' Reilly on YouTube that the studio is “not anti-platform” and that PC ports are usually handled after console launches simply because they can be so time-consuming. However, not everyone is convinced.
Reddit user CarlWellsGrave says, “They can sell it to you twice. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out,” while draven33l claims, “It's not coming to PC at launch because they want a double dip.” Of course, not all players are waiting GTA 6 think so, but it will be fascinating to see if PS5 and Xbox Series X/S sales numbers skyrocket in the weeks leading up to GTA 6 launch.
Consoles getting more expensive again could just be a fluke, but it also feels like GTA 6 preparation
There is no doubt that the RAM crisis is still ongoing and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. But some of the price increases that Sony, Xbox and Nintendo have adopted in recent months feel terrible. The most infamous price increase to hit consoles is the PS5 Pro cost. When it launched, this high-performance version of the console was priced at $700, which is already incredibly expensive for a console. Now Sony has increased that to a whopping $900.
The RAM crisis being the main driver behind these price hikes is the most likely explanation, but it's understandable that some would be led to believe that Sony and Xbox also see this as a big opportunity to sell more consoles in the wake of GTA 6 for a much higher price than the companies would have originally had without the RAM shortage.
Not launching on PC alongside consoles has been Rockstar's MO for a long time now.
There's also the fact that Sony is already pushing the PS5 as the best console to play GTA 6 on. Senior Vice President of SIE Marketing Mary Yee has claimed that the PS5's “immersive features” will make it the perfect GTA 6 platform. It's an obvious push to sell consoles, and it's hard to blame these companies for wanting to get as much profit as possible from a game that's expected to be one of the biggest launches the industry has ever seen.
GTA 6's marketing is only going to get more intense
After it GTA 6 pre-orders went live last month, Rockstar has remained relatively quiet. There hasn't even been a third GTA 6 trailer released yet. When the next big sneak peek happens, it's likely to kick off the real marketing. Honestly, Rockstar doesn't really need to do much when it comes to marketing, but the hype alone will reach new heights and be what drives many PC gamers to bed and give in to console temptations.
Rockstar is also yet to confirm about an online version of the GTA 6 happens or not. Then GTA online was such a huge success that it would be surprising if GTA 6 didn't get an online match. GTA online has a huge base of PC gamers, so there are definitely gamers out there who aren't as into it GTA 6s single player story and are primarily focused on a potential GTA 6 online message.
If someone buys a console to play GTA 6 or not is a personal choice. There are great expectations around GTA 6so it's understandable why so many people would be ready to buy a brand new system to feel part of such a historic launch. But on the flip side, many players have gotten used to it GTA 6 wait. Even if GTA 6The PC version takes another year or two to come out, many people will be willing to hold out a little longer to avoid buying a console or buying the game twice. Whatever happens, it will be incredibly interesting to see what happens with console sales over the next few months.
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating pending – likely adult 17+
