Will GTA 6 Be On PS4 Or Xbox One? The Answer May Infuriate Some Franchise Fans

Some "Grand Theft Auto" fans might not be able to play the upcoming sixth entry without making a serious upgrade. After literally a decade of anticipation, Rockstar Games has finally debuted the first trailer for "Grand Theft Auto VI." The first look at the long-gestating video game leaked on the evening of December 4, a day before the trailer was officially set to debut. In a measured move, Rockstar Games then officially debuted the trailer for all to see shortly after. As expected, the trailer for the Vice City-set open-world game is already a hit among fans who have been waiting for any morsels of information.

The end of the trailer confirms that the game is arriving in 2025 — some 12 years after the release of the San Andreas-set "GTA 5." What the trailer fails to confirm, however, is which consoles that the game will be playable on. To clear up this point, Take-Two Interactive Software quickly put out a press release (via Business Wire) that confirms "GTA 6" won't be released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. To put the previous game's longevity into perspective, "GTA 5" was released on the PS4 and Xbox One a year after its debut on the PS3 and Xbox 360, then eventually received an optimized PS5 upgrade as well. It seems from the press release that "GTA 6" is on track to solely debut on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. While this may please fans who have already adopted the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S batch of consoles, this news is definitely disappointing for those who are still playing on the older generation of devices. 

"Grand Theft Auto 6" skipping the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One isn't a terribly surprising move. After all, the PS4 and Xbox One are part of an older generation of consoles and were replaced in 2020 by the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, respectively. Yes, games continue to be released for the PS4 and Xbox One, but more contemporary gamers and devs continue to adopt and embrace the newer batch of consoles.

Considering the amount of technological advancements that have occurred between 2013 and now, it's fair to assume that the PS4 and Xbox One simply can't handle the new world that Rockstar Games has cooked up with "GTA 6." Take a brief look at the trailer for "GTA 6" and you'll see that it's filled with and impressive amount of small details that simply don't seem possible on PS4 and Xbox One. While the news is no doubt disappointing, releasing "GTA 6" is a major deal for Rockstar Games. It's the developer's first fully new game for the current batch of contemporary consoles, so the company no doubt wants to put out the most advanced version possible. As Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser explained in the press release, "Grand Theft Auto VI continues our efforts to push the limits of what's possible in highly immersive, story-driven open-world experiences."

What's most surprising, however, is how Rockstar Games and Take-Two haven't confirmed a PC release for the sixth entry. "GTA 5" famously didn't debut on PC until 2015 — two years after it first hit the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.