GTA 6 Xbox file leak provides clue about GTA Online multiplayer mode

With the start of pre-orders, Rockstar hasn’t confirmed the timing for GTA 6 online. Regardless, analysts believe that a multiplayer component to bolster the solo experience is inevitable. A file structure leak for the Xbox version suggests that, like with past titles, the mode will be a separate download.

A revealing file list

On social media, Synth Potato explained how the components of the GTA 6 Xbox release are labeled. Buyers of the Grand Theft Auto VI: Ultimate Edition will see extra vehicles and missions as add-ons. The Vintage Vice City Pack with bonus cosmetics is another optional install. More notably, gamers also don’t have to download the single-player campaign.

If the story is its own download, it’s logical that a multiplayer mode would work the same way. That would allow Rockstar to offer the next iteration of GTA Online as a standalone product.

It’s unclear whether pre-orders will unlock the potential co-op and PvP action. With GTA 5, buyers gained access when the content launched within around 2 weeks of its release date. Likewise, with Red Dead Redemption 2, no additional purchase was necessary when Red Dead Online opened.

With the previous titles, players could eventually purchase versions without single-player campaigns. The GTA 6 Xbox file scheme is already set up for that scenario. At the same time, gamers can save precious space on increasingly expensive console SSDs.

GTA 6 Online pricing

If a revamped GTA Online comes with the game, it may quiet some criticism surrounding the $80 price. Unfortunately, Rockstar hasn’t shared any details about a future multiplayer mode. Still, it’s expected to be a completely distinct service from the current offering. That said, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick hinted that support for GTA 5 servers will continue.

A few prior leaks may shed light on when GTA 6 online might arrive and what it could entail. In April, Call of Duty insider TheGhostOfHope reported that it would debut in December, a month after the release date. Also, a former employee's Discord message, exposed during a legal dispute with the studio, referred to a 32-user playtest.