In the absence of official updates on Grand Theft Auto 6, eager fans have been left clinging to rumors and speculation.
A former Rockstar Games developer has now weighed in on what to expect from the game’s performance on consoles – and his predictions may not be what players were hoping for.
A Bleak Forecast For Console Players
Rockstar has kept tight-lipped about GTA 6, leading to widespread speculation about everything from its release date to the possibility of a standalone GTA Online 2. However, new insights from former Rockstar animator Mike York suggest that console players may need to temper their expectations when it comes to the game’s performance.
During an interview with YouTuber Kiwi Talkz, York shared his thoughts on the expected frame rate for GTA 6 on current-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. According to him, console players should not count on experiencing the game at 60 frames per second.
"I don’t know if they’ll be able to pull off 60fps," York said. "I don’t think so. I think they’re gonna be shooting for 30fps - and a locked 30fps, meaning it never dips below that."
A 30FPS Reality?
While many players were hopeful that GTA 6 would run at 60fps on the latest hardware, York’s comments suggest Rockstar may prioritize graphical fidelity over high frame rates. He did mention, however, that optimizations could allow the game to push beyond 30fps in some cases.
"They’re gonna try to optimize as much as they can to where it never goes below 30," he explained. "But it can be bumped up to 40, 41, 42, whatever."
This news is unlikely to sit well with console players who had been expecting a smoother experience, especially after games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 faced performance concerns at launch.
Well... As expected, #GTA6 will run at 30fps on consoles. I'm not paying 100$ for that pic.twitter.com/T6nt9PV2o5
— The Constellation Crew (@sergioodoardi) January 30, 2025
For those looking for the best possible experience, York suggests that PC will ultimately be the way to go - though it may require patience. Rockstar has historically released their GTA titles on consoles first, with PC versions arriving later, often with enhanced graphics and better optimization.
"Later, once it’s on PC, it’ll probably get super optimized and changed, and new graphics cards will come out, and you’ll be able to run it at 60fps probably at that time," York added.
Could AI Upscaling Save the Day?
One possible saving grace for console players, particularly those eyeing an upgraded version of the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, is AI-driven upscaling technology. York mentioned that a more powerful console, like the rumored PS5 Pro, could potentially use AI-assisted upscaling to hit 60fps. However, he was skeptical that any current hardware had the raw power to run GTA 6 at that frame rate natively.
While most of the speculation around GTA 6 has revolved around its potential price and the rumored separate launch of GTA Online 2, performance has now become another hot topic of discussion. If Rockstar does indeed lock the console versions at 30fps, it will likely spark debates about whether prioritizing high-end visuals over smoother gameplay is the right choice.
For now, fans can only wait and see. Until Rockstar breaks their silence, speculation will continue to swirl, and hopeful players will cling to any shred of information - no matter how concerning it may be.