Later GTA 6 PC release date due to limited resources, hints ex-Rockstar producer

As its November PS5 and Xbox launch approaches, the GTA 6 PC release date remains a mystery. Rockstar also prioritized consoles with GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. Former producer John Ricchio shared more insight into the company’s approach to platforms. Surprisingly, he suggests that the well-funded developers may still have finite resources.

A console-first strategy

Ricchio worked on Red Dead Redemption, Max Payne 3, and GTA 5 before leaving Rockstar Games. In a new interview with Reece “Kiwi Talkz” Reilly, he explains why he preferred developing for consoles first. Ricchio says it’s “always better to start with the constraints and then extend because shrinking is a lot harder than extending.”

Having fixed specs for Microsoft or Sony gaming systems is often a bonus. Meanwhile, although they have greater performance potential, PCs require compatibility with a wider range of hardware. Besides the more straightforward optimization, the studio can also strategically spend “always limited” resources.

Some desktop and laptop gamers feel slighted by the lack of a confirmed GTA 6 PC release date. Yet, Ricchio stresses that developers want to support as many platforms as possible. The Steam version of Red Dead Redemption didn't arrive until 14 years after its debut, but he notes that a build existed much earlier.

Delaying ports was a business decision, even though the studio had generous budgets in the Grand Theft Auto 5 era. Riccho elaborates, if you are “spending money on that, you're not spending money on something else.”

Is money really an issue for Rockstar?

The explanation may be hard to believe when considering comments from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick. Addressing Rockstar's ability to break new ground, he said that the team has “unlimited financial, creative, human resources.” The CEO also aimed to reduce time crunch, despite rumors to the contrary. Regardless, the game is expected to offer a larger open world to explore, with more intelligent AI-powered NPCs.

Implementing new technology on a grand scale could stress even the largest studios. That said, Digital Foundry gave buyers hope that the release date for a GTA 6 PC port may not be far off. The site believes that recent screenshots display a level of detail that’s not possible on the PS5 or Xbox.