The GTA 5 Steam player count spikes as fans await a firm GTA 6 release date

Since its December 2023 reveal, gamers have been desperate for any new information about GTA 6. Even with an official fall 2025 window, precise GTA 6 release dates are often rumored before being dismissed. Frustrated fans are taking refuge in GTA 5, leading to some of its highest player counts over the past ten years.

As January comes to a close, Steam Charts reports an average of over 129,000 GTA 5 concurrent players for the month. With the exception of December 2023, it's the most successful month for the crime-themed action-adventure sensation since 2020. January's player peak also rivals the best numbers over that period. Of course, Steam Charts doesn't include statistics for GTA 5 on Epic Games or consoles.

GTA 5 is hardly the only game to experience a popularity boom before an anticipated sequel drops. Still, the title continues to prosper thanks to an enticing open-world component. GTA 5 mods are generally allowed for the single-player campaign and also deserve credit for keeping players engaged. While the base game has stopped receiving new DLC, GTA Online continues to be treated to weekly content updates.

As GTA 5 remains highly successful, Rockstar Games doesn't have to rush a new game to market. Another concern for players is how well GTA 6 will run on the Xbox Series X or PS5. The developer has indicated that the title will boast expansive environments with highly detailed textures. Some gamers may stay loyal to GTA 5 if consoles feature choppy 30 fps gameplay, as suggested. When the game inevitably releases on PCs, ideal performance will likely require a pricey GPU.

These technical challenges aren't derailing the hype train. Until the PC GTA 6 release date is known, GTA 5 will undoubtedly remain one of the most popular attractions on Steam.