Grand Theft Auto VI and Online Component May Be Sold Separately, According to Rumors

According to new rumors, Rockstar Games could, for the first time, launch Grand Theft Auto VI and its online multiplayer counterpart, Grand Theft Auto Online, as separate purchases at release. The speculation stems from known Rockstar leaker Tez2, who commented on the GTA Forums that Rockstar might choose to decouple the two components in order to offer a lower-priced online standalone version, and thus broaden the player base. This approach, Tez2 states, would let players who cannot afford the full price still access the online portion, with an option to upgrade to the full single-player and online experience later.

Tez2’s statements also highlight an industry concern that if the online version is sold at a lower price, Rockstar might keep the cost of the “complete package” from skyrocketing. Many in the games industry predict that Grand Theft Auto VI could carry a higher price tag—potentially $80—signaling a new norm in AAA game pricing. By contrast, a more budget-friendly online-only purchase could draw in those who are mainly interested in multiplayer, leaving an upgrade path for the story campaign for those who wish to immerse themselves in the entire experience at a later date.

Further speculation about Grand Theft Auto VI concerns its performance on current- and next-generation consoles. As reported by GamesRadar, a former Rockstar Games animator named Mike York recently commented on the probable frame rates console players can expect. Based on the developer’s past optimization priorities, York expects 30 FPS on the base PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at launch, with no dips below that threshold. York also believes that once the PlayStation 5 Pro hits the market—equipped with the so-called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaling—Rockstar could aim for 60 FPS on that more powerful hardware. Nonetheless, he anticipates the immediate focus will be to lock down a visually stunning 30 FPS experience and only consider a higher frame rate down the line.

Grand Theft Auto VI is slated to release later this year for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, although Rockstar Games has not yet revealed an official release date.

If Rockstar does offer Grand Theft Auto VI and GTA Online separately, would you be more inclined to purchase the online version first, or do you prefer the complete package from day one? Share your thoughts on this pricing and performance strategy below!