GTA 6 Has One Problem: GTA 5 Isn’t Going Anywhere

Just a couple more months of anticipation, and then PS5 gamers can finally step into the world of this year's most anticipated titles. Despite numerous setbacks, Take Two Interactive's CEO has confirmed that the development team is planning a November 19, 2026, release.

The current hype online surrounding GTA 6 shows its potential to be one of the highest-selling video games of all time. Before Rockstar makes it live, Minecraft, the highest-selling video game with over 350 million copies, poses as the game's biggest competition.

While all this hype is genuine, the GTA fanbase must be wondering what will happen to the previous iteration, GTA V. Therefore, let’s dive into the numbers and explore Rockstar’s plans for the AAA title and the future of its predecessor.

GTA 5’s Massive Player Base Could Shape Successor's Sales Trajectory

Regardless of any industry, numbers don't lie, unlike your “this will be my last game” excuse. What started almost 13 years ago is still going strong. And there is the GTA 5 player count 2026 to prove that. A recent X post from @GTAVI_Countdown showcases that GTA 5 currently has 4 million active users. And surprisingly, it still sells almost 5 million copies every three months.

And this might cause a serious problem for GTA 6 initially. The reason we're saying initially is due to the game's hefty price point. It's no surprise that GTA has a larger player base on consoles than on PC.

That, however, doesn't justify the fact that people will dive into GTA 6 right off the bat. A game that drops weekly content updates and makes $500 million every year won't see its player count drop anytime soon. Talking about the successor, check out our recent coverage of GTA 6 Launch In Doubt after a recent data breach.

Take Two Interactive CEO's Assurance Made The Competition More Exciting

GTA titles have always been a memorable part of every gamer's childhood who has ever owned a PC or a console. Remembering those cheat codes for San Andreas and Vice City was easier than remembering our email passwords. Strauss Zelnick seems to be on the same page as these nostalgic players.

He confirmed that as long as players remain active in the GTA V servers, the developers will continue to provide online support and updates. This has happened in the past as well, when the GTA IV servers were kept live and running even seven years after the release of GTA 5. That certainly shows how much the company cares about the playerbase. While the GTA 6 release date countdown has been a trending topic among the AAA enthusiasts, the GTA 5 vs GTA 6 might take the spotlight soon.

And Rockstar might have already tested the waters in GTA Online, as recently, GTA Online Features were teasing GTA 6. With Grand Theft Auto V sitting second among the highest-selling video games, it may turn out to be GTA 6 biggest competition. If you're interested in more news regarding Rockstar's upcoming AAA releases, check out our coverage of GTA 6 Voice Actors.