Grand Theft Auto 6 will not include an online mode at launch, leaving fans divided over when it will arrive and whether it will be a free addition like GTA Online. Rockstar has confirmed the game's price and opened pre-orders, but many questions remain unanswered with the release just five months away.
Uncertainty surrounds GTA 6 online mode
There is still no raw gameplay footage showing GTA 6 in action, and story details remain vague. Rockstar has only revealed that the game follows a criminal couple caught in a statewide conspiracy after a failed bank heist. However, the biggest question for fans is what Rockstar plans for the online multiplayer, as GTA 6 has been confirmed as a 'single-player experience' at launch.
GTA Online, the multiplayer component of GTA 5, has been a consistent revenue stream for Rockstar since its 2013 launch and is a key contributor to the game's sales success. In 2024, reports indicated that a 'significant online mode' was being planned for GTA 6, likely as its own entity rather than a continuation of GTA Online, but little has been officially stated.
Fans debate release timeline
On Reddit, the prevailing belief is that GTA Online 2 will launch shortly after GTA 6, possibly within a few weeks or months. This mirrors the release of GTA Online, which arrived on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 1, 2013, two weeks after GTA 5's launch. If Rockstar follows a similar schedule, the online mode could arrive in December 2026, a month typically avoided for major releases. Alternatively, Rockstar might delay it to early 2027, which would clash with many publishers planning to avoid GTA 6's November launch window.
Development time is another factor. Reports suggest GTA 6's online mode may function similarly to Roblox, allowing players to create and sell their own content—features absent from GTA Online. This could require additional development time.
GTA Online remains a competitor
Rhy Elliott of Alinea Analytics notes that GTA 6's biggest competition will be GTA 5 itself. Many players may hesitate to switch to GTA Online 2 if they cannot transfer their progress and must start over. GTA Online serves as a social hub for friends, and if some cannot or will not migrate, others may stay. Rockstar could shut down GTA Online to force migration, but that would risk backlash and cut off a key revenue source.
Separate purchase concerns
Fans are also worried that GTA Online 2 may require a separate purchase, a rumour from last year. Currently, GTA Online is available separately for £19.99, but free with GTA 5. On Reddit, users express concern that buying GTA 6 may not guarantee access to online multiplayer. 'Not for that price,' says Icy-Champion2680, referring to GTA 6's $80 US price tag, 'but if they decided to sell online for around half the price of the main game, I would play the story on console and just get online for PC.' Others refuse to pay extra, though many expect it to be free. 'I doubt they would charge for it; it's a live service money printer. Fairly certain it will be free and once you're in, it's all microtransactions,' says LittleBIGman83.
