The wait for the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 is officially on, and excitement is higher than ever before. Rockstar Games is teasing a gargantuan step ahead of GTA 5, pushing the bar on visuals and size. However, there is mounting anxiety among gamers who are still playing on older consoles: will GTA 6 be playable on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One? Keep reading till the end to find out the answer.
To cut to the chase, Grand Theft Auto 6 will not be available on PS4 or Xbox One. Rockstar Games made that perfectly clear with the game’s initial trailer and official statements. The game is scheduled to come out in Fall 2025, and it’s being exclusively developed for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
This isn’t mere speculation. The official GTA 6 website now only includes these current-gen consoles as supported platforms, dashing any hopes of backward compatibility with last-gen hardware.
Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet. Coming 2025 to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
GTA 6 Official Website
Why is GTA 6 a Next-Gen Exclusive?
There’s a good reason behind Rockstar’s decision to move away from older consoles. Everything we’ve seen so far, from the photorealistic graphics to the massive open-world setting, suggests that GTA 6 is designed to push the limits of next-gen performance.
One of the biggest technical influences is the mere scale of the map. Reports have it that GTA 6’s map can be more than 48 square miles, essentially double the space of GTA 5’s San Andreas. Factor in improved lighting, sophisticated AI systems, and unprecedented levels of detail, and it’s not hard to realize that PS4 and Xbox One just don’t possess the hardware heft necessary to accommodate a game of that scale.
To put it into perspective, even GTA 5 has struggled on older consoles for a long time, especially in GTA Online. That’s the reason why Rockstar isn’t eager to repeat that experience with GTA 6.
Performance on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
Rockstar has officially confirmed that GTA 6 will be available on both the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but there has been some speculation regarding performance targets. Former Rockstar animator Mike York has said that hitting 60 FPS could be a challenge, particularly considering the scale and visual ambition of the game.
Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) is the next installment in Rockstar Games’ legendary open-world action-adventure franchise. Based in the fictional U.S. state of Leonida, which is a representation of Florida, the game has a contemporary Vice City, modeled after Miami. Players will be experiencing the life of Lucia, the first female protagonist in a mainline title since 2000, and her male counterpart, Jason. Their story is purported to be an inspiration from the notorious Bonnie and Clyde couple.
To provide a smooth and intuitive gameplay, the developers had no other choice but to avoid the previous PS4 and Xbox One series. What’s your opinion on this? Let us know in the comments below.