Grand Theft Auto VI is coming this November to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and while history suggests it will eventually come to PC, it won’t be there alongside the console editions at launch. Why is that?
Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick told Bloomberg that Rockstar Games is known to launch GTA games first on console before PC, and that is because, “I think with regard to a release like that you’re judged by serving the core [audience].”
“Like really serving the core consumer. If your core consumer isn’t there, if they’re not served first and best, you kind of don’t hit your other consumers,” he said.
Zelnick also pushed back against the theory that Sony’s co-marketing deal with Rockstar Games is the reason why GTA 6 won’t come to PC at launch. “No,” Zelnick said. “I mean, historically Rockstar’s gone to console first.”
Also in the interview, Zelnick talked about how important the PC market is today compared to years ago. When Zelnick joined Take-Two in 2007, he said PC sales made up only around 5% of total sales volumes for the NBA 2K series. That’s changed a lot since then. “Now with regard to a big title, PC can be 45, 50% of the sales,” he said.
Bringing GTA 6 to PC after console could also create a second selling cycle for the game, with people even possibly buying the game twice. “We’ll see how it works out,” Zelnick said.
In 2025, Zelnick said PC had become a more important platform than before, prompting some to theorize that GTA 6 would land on PC at launch, but that won’t be the case.
In 2023, a former Rockstar developer offered up a theory on why GTA 6 won’t come to PC at launch. Mike York, who worked on Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, said Rockstar wants to “prioritize what sells.”
Also in the interview, Zelnick said he is excited but also scared about releasing GTA 6, saying it is “terrifying” because “the expectations are so high.”
Indeed, the game is expected to sell 40 million copies and drive more than $3 billion in revenue during its first year. GTA 6 has enormous shoes to fill, as predecessor GTA 5 has sold more than 225 million copies and generated tons more money from GTA Online.
It remains to be seen what GTA 6 will cost at launch, but Bank of America said Rockstar should charge $80 for it to help encourage other publishers to raise prices, too.
GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Developer Rockstar has yet to announce a price point, but Zelnick recently said the game will be price at a “reasonable” level, whatever that means.
