Background information
Your favourite game could disappear forever
by Rainer Etzweiler
GTA VI will only be released for consoles – why?
7.12.2023
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
GTA VI will initially only be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2025. Why is Rockstar letting the PC community down?
Why is Rockstar ignoring the PC platform? It's 2023, and simultaneous releases on consoles and PC are now commonplace. Rockstar doesn’t give any reasons for their PC slight in the official press release accompanying the announcement.
These factors may have played a decisive role in the decision.
1. Tradition
Historically, Rockstar Games has always been a studio that develops games primarily for consoles – with the exception of the first top-down GTA titles. The first game was initially released on PC and then for PlayStation. Part 2 was launched simultaneously on both systems. But with the leap into the third GTA dimension, PC fans had to wait longer for a port. With GTA V, the wait for PC fans reached dizzying new heights.
Other Rockstar games also landed on PC much later. PC gamers had to wait over a year for Red Dead Redemption 2. The first Red Dead Redemption never even released for PC. The recently released remastered version of the classic was also only released on PS4 and Switch. Rockstar works in mysterious ways. However, it’s clear the studio prefers consoles for developing new games. And that brings me to my second point.
2. Focusing on a small number of platforms enables efficient development
3. Higher sales figures and a longer life with multiple releases
Take GTA V: after the initial release in September 2013 for PS3 and Xbox 360, a next-gen upgrade for PS4 and Xbox One followed in November 2014. At full price, of course. The game was then also released for PC in April 2015. Again at full price. And last year, another next-next-gen update for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S followed – this time a little cheaper, at least.
The strategy of delayed releases on multiple platforms is lucrative for Rockstar. This keeps the games in conversation and they sell more over a long period of time. GTA V has so far sold over 190 million (!) copies. Each new release is celebrated as an event and enables a new target audience to immerse themselves in the game.
With the delayed PC release of GTA VI, even the biggest PC fans will be thinking about taking the plunge into the console world after all to avoid having to wait several months – or several years. And conversely, anyone who buys GTA VI on the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X will be tempted to buy the ultra-high-end version of the game for PC after a few years. Rockstar wins twice, fans' bank accounts lose twice.
4. Fears of cheating, mods and controversy
According to Dan Houser, Rockstar co-founder, it was «draining and upsetting – a tough time in the company». The incident apparently also had a major impact on the way Rockstar deals with the media and the public in general. And probably also the company attitude towards modders.
Header image: Rockstar Games
Domagoj Belancic
Senior Editor
Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.chMy love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.
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