ⓘ Rockstar Games
PC gamers may not have to wait nearly as long for GTA 6 as expected. According to a new insider report, Rockstar is targeting an early 2027 release – just a few months after the console launch. Fans remain skeptical, but the community is already coming up with theories about why Rockstar might be changing its plans.
For now, GTA 6 is only scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026 (available for pre-order on Amazon). Given the lengthy gap between the console and PC releases of GTA 5, PC gamers have been preparing for a much longer wait. A new report from GamesBeat, however, suggests the PC version could arrive surprisingly soon.
According to the outlet, Rockstar is aiming to release GTA 6 on PC in the first quarter of 2027 – potentially as early as January and no later than the end of March if that window holds. GamesBeat cites four anonymous industry sources said to be familiar with the studio's plans. Rockstar has yet to confirm any release window for the PC version.
That would be a significant departure from the studio's usual release strategy. GTA 5 launched on consoles in September 2013, but PC players had to wait until April 2015 – roughly 19 months later. If the new report proves accurate, that gap could shrink to just one and a half to four and a half months for GTA 6.
Why Rockstar might be in such a hurry is anyone's guess. GamesBeat suggests financial considerations could play a role, along with the growing importance of role-playing servers and user-generated content. Rockstar's acquisition of the team behind FiveM, the popular GTA 5 modding framework, in 2023 could lend some weight to that theory.
Reddit remains skeptical as fans debate reasons for an early PC release
On Reddit, many users would welcome an earlier PC release, but few seem convinced that Rockstar will actually break with its established strategy. The thread's most prominent comment comes from u/hateswitchx, who dismisses the rumor as little more than an "educated wish."
Much of the discussion centers on why Rockstar would change its approach in the first place. Reddit user u/superman_king suggests that high console prices could be part of the equation. After all, not every PC gamer will be willing to buy an expensive console just to play GTA 6. An earlier PC release could therefore help Rockstar reach players who might otherwise hold off on buying the game.
Another theory involves advances in PS5 emulation. Some users speculate that Rockstar may want to get ahead of a potentially playable unofficial PC version. There is no concrete evidence to support that idea, however.
Marius Müller - Tech Writer - 6254 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024
As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my steady companion. After school, the PlayStation was fired up. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are really close to my heart - in addition to gaming, I also like to write about e-mobility, photovoltaics and innovative gadgets. When I'm not sitting at my computer, I'm probably on water rescue duty on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the downsides of my geek life - namely sitting for long periods - at the local swimming pool.