Ex-Call of Duty Boss Thinks GTA 6 is Going to Be 'Real Trouble' for Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone could struggle to retain players once Grand Theft Auto 6 releases, according to Greg Reisdorf. The former Call of Duty boss predicts some more mature free-to-play games, like Warzone, might be in real trouble trying to compete with the online component for Grand Theft Auto 6.

Following a couple of delays, Rockstar’s upcoming game is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026. Barring any more delays, GTA 6’s release date means the end of 2026 will be an exciting time for many gamers. Since its initial announcement, the game has been one of the most anticipated titles in the gaming industry. For example, both of the game’s trailers have racked up millions of views and sit among the most-watched of all time. GTA 6 even won Most Anticipated Game at The Game Awards 2025.

GTA 6 Could Draw Players Away from Warzone and Other Free-to-Play Games

During an interview with esportsbets, Greg Reisdorf, former multiplayer creative director at Sledgehammer Games, weighed in on the impact GTA 6 could have on the industry when it releases. Specifically, the former Call of Duty boss talked about the potential implications the online component could have on free-to-play titles. According to Reisdorf, games similar to Call of Duty: Warzone could be in trouble when the new version of GTA Online comes out. The developer pointed to Rockstar listening to its community when adopting new content. “The nice part that Rockstar has done is saying that we’ll fire off some events, but we’re also going to allow our community to do things and work with them in some ways,” he said.

Interestingly, Reisdorf made the distinction between more mature games, like Warzone, and titles like Roblox and Fortnite. He believed that the latter games might do better because they have a “different audience.” Unfortunately, games like Warzone attract a similar crowd to Rockstar’s next game. This issue is magnified when considering the enormous number of gamers who are likely to play GTA 6 following its launch. Estimates from some analysts predict the game to make $7.6 billion within 60 days. With so many fans, the overlap in player bases between some free-to-play games and GTA 6 could be significant.

It will be interesting to see what strategies some of these games might employ to lessen the impact of GTA 6’s launch. Before the most recent GTA 6 delay, some developers purposefully announced release dates that would keep them away from Rockstar’s game. While games like Call of Duty: Warzone are already available, they could run more in-game events or offer more rewards to try to entice players back. Conversely, they might try to ride out the initial surge of popularity and hope that their player base does not take too much of a hit.

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While GTA 6 might be nearly a year away from release, that has not stopped speculation about the title. Specifically, debate continues regarding how much the game will cost. Recently, the former Technical Director at Rockstar North, Obbe Vermeij, weighed in on the GTA 6 price discussion. Despite rumors that the game could cost $100, Vermeij believed it would be a “regular priced game,” reasoning that the company could net profit through things like an online mode after launch.

Ultimately, gamers will have to wait and see what the price of GTA 6 will end up being. While many fans will purchase the game regardless, the pricing could impact how many copies are sold. By extension, this could influence the effect the game could have on Warzone and other free-to-play titles.