Grand Theft Auto fans are waiting for one big question to be answered by Rockstar Games so that they can learn more about the GTA 6 release on PlayStation and Xbox platforms. We have yet to find out when the next Grand Theft Auto game will be launching, however, many believe it will come first to PS5 and Xbox Series X. The latest predictions include GTA 6 launching during 2021, a long wait for PS4 and Xbox One fans who aren’t planning on making the next-gen jump.
It’s been over six years since GTA 5 was first released, and gamers could be waiting a total of eight years for the GTA 6 release date.
So you can see why fans have been desperately tracking the latest updates and rumours regarding Rockstar Games.
The big news this week is that GTA 5 was the most downloaded game on the PlayStation Store in December.
“Grand Theft Auto V was the most downloaded game on PlayStation Store last month, holding off both FIFA 20 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare to claim the top spot in the last digital charts of 2019,” a message from Sony confirms.
“While PS4 games jostled into new positions in December, the top PS VR, DLC and F2P spots continued to be held by the previous month’s titles, with Beat Saber topping the PS VR chart and Fortnite the F2P and DLC charts.”
This is great news for Rockstar Games, who have a clear incentive to carry on supporting Grand Theft Auto and GTA Online in 2020.
But it raises ones massive question for fans hoping to see a big GTA 6 reveal in the coming months.
Is Rockstar Games planning on making GTA 5 backwards compatible on PS5 and Xbox Series X to help extend the life of one of its most successful products ever?
Because the implication behind this move would certainly speak volumes about their plans for GTA 6.
As many gamers will have already heard, both Sony and Microsoft are planning to make their consoles backwards compatible with PS4 and Xbox One games.
This could be done in a controlled fashion, like seen with Xbox 360 games, or made possible through discs.
But if developers need to give their consent, it means many will be able to control whether or not games will appear on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
So the question will be whether Rockstar chooses to be part of this, has plans for their own port, or doesn’t want to see GTA 5 make the jump.
With GTA Online doing so well and having such high numbers on current platforms, it would make sense that they would like to see that continue.
However, this might prove to be counterproductive if they have another massive Grand Theft Auto game coming out soon after the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
The choice made by Rockstar and its parent company Take-Two Interactive may provide a vague hint on the timing of the next GTA game.
Take-Two has commented briefly on backwards compatibility, albeit briefly when discussing Red Dead 2 and how GTA 5 benefitted from the port created for PS4 and Xbox One, highlighting the fact that Rockstar went much further than just a simple port.
“I don’t think backwards compatibility is actually all that important,” Zelnick said at a 2019 event that TweakTown reported in a post online.
“I think the reason that we had such a great experience with Grand Theft Auto V when we brought it to new generation is, first of all, the content was meaningfully updated with amazing new features.
“And secondly, because the title was so extraordinary that it remained the standard-bearer for the new generation straight through until the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 because nothing stood up to it technically or creatively.
“So, how Red Dead Redemption 2 fares going forward, it’s hard to know, but it’s certainly off to a great start.”
While this sounds promising for fans hoping for a Red Dead Redemption 2 next-gen upgrade, Take-Two is also well aware of the limitations they have when it comes to console switches.
Zelnick added: “Our success is not built defensively by managing platform transitions. Those things are really out of our control.
“Our success is built by making the very best entertainment that we possibly can and we’re grateful that at least so far, it appears that it’s some of the best entertainment made. And that’s the whole drill.”