Take-Two hints GTA 6 Online release date is far off, with focus on single-player

Take-Two Interactive held its annual shareholder meeting on September 17th. While the company made no major announcements, it indicated GTA 6 Online won’t surface until long after the game’s release date. The publisher emphasized that the immediate focus is on the solo campaign rather than multiplayer.

Recorded by nicoreese on the ResetEra forums, Take-Two made this statement:

GTA 6 is a single-player title and is due to release this November. We will continue to support GTA Online after GTA VI release and beyond.

The news won’t surprise followers of Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier. During an August 7th podcast, the insider warned not to expect a multiplayer mode reveal “anytime soon.” Rockstar marketing efforts will center around gamers exploring Leonida with Jason, Lucia, and a supporting cast.

Some fans who pre-ordered hoped for a co-op option with the protagonists on the GTA 6 release date. Nevertheless, GTA Online is still thriving, so Rockstar may see little reason to rush its successor. In the fiscal quarter ending on June 30th, Take-Two reported that, boosted by microtransactions, spending increased by another 3% compared to the previous year.

No online until 2028?

It’s unclear when an online mode could launch, but Paul Tassi of Forbes made a prediction. The journalist anticipates the industry is a “year or two out” from seeing its debut. He believes the publisher and studio plan to wait until the current service's popularity wanes before the transition. In the meantime, they will lean on the projected prolific sales of the new game.

Even if its arrival isn't imminent, leaks have detailed potential multiplayer functionality. Amid a legal dispute with fired Rockstar employees, a private conversation about a 32-player format emerged. That’s not much different from the existing GTA Online, where up to 30 virtual criminals participate simultaneously.

The messages make it obvious that development has at least begun for GTA 6 Online. Still, to avoid another release date delay, priorities may have shifted entirely to single-player gameplay.