While many fans feel it’s been way too long since the last Grand Theft Auto game, Take-Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick says the wait for GTA 6 isn’t as dry as it seems. Despite the 11+ year gap since GTA V, Zelnick argues that the franchise has still been thriving—just in a different way.
🗣️ “GTA Online Expansions Are Like Standalone Games”
In a recent interview with The Game Business, Zelnick offered his take on the decade-long wait:
“Rockstar delivered content for Grand Theft Auto Online, and some of those expansions were so robust that 15 years ago they would have been considered standalone games. One can really offer an argument that Rockstar has launched new GTA experiences several times within a year since 2014.”
He also noted that this logic extends to Red Dead Online, pointing out Rockstar’s consistent effort in keeping both universes active.
🎯 But Fans Still Crave the Single-Player Experience
Although Zelnick’s point is understandable from a business perspective, fans don’t exactly agree. For many, the true heart of GTA lies in its story-driven, single-player campaigns, not in the multiplayer-focused GTA Online expansions.
Aside from the Cayo Perico Heist—the only GTA Online content fully playable solo—most of the updates require online co-op or PvP play, which doesn’t quite satisfy that classic GTA itch.
📈 GTA 5 Still Breaking Records
Even without a new mainline entry, GTA V continues to perform like a modern blockbuster:
- 🕹️ Over 5 million copies sold in the first quarter of this year alone
- 📊 Lifetime sales: Over 215 million units worldwide
To put that into perspective, GTA V has outsold newer releases like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 combined this year.
⏳ So… When Is GTA 6 Coming?
Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 is in development, with a 2026 May release expected. Fans hope it delivers the depth, innovation, and unforgettable storytelling the series is known for—especially after more than a decade of waiting.
Until then, GTA Online continues to be Rockstar’s primary outlet, even if it’s not the sequel players have been longing for.
