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Online Multiplayer - Version 10 vs Version 11
May 27, 2026, 01:41 PM
Accuracy update (2026-05-27): cleaned up sentence fragments left from outlet-reference removal
Jun 4, 2026, 09:17 PM
Fixed missing comma between 'trailers' and 'screenshots'
11Online Multiplayer22Grand Theft Auto VI will include an online multiplayer component, continuing the model established by GTA Online since GTA V's launch in 2013. Rockstar has not made a formal announcement about the mode, but concrete details have emerged through court proceedings, executive statements during earnings calls, and patent filings.4432-Player Sessions66In October 2025, Rockstar fired over 30 developers in the UK and Canada for alleged gross misconduct. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) accused the studio of union busting, and a preliminary hearing took place at the Glasgow Employment Tribunal on January 5, 2026.99During the proceedings, Rockstar's legal representative stated that the fired developers had discussed a "top secret" online mode in a private Discord channel. Specifically, an employee had sent a message claiming Rockstar did not want more than five people taking time off simultaneously because it made it harder to fill playtest sessions with 32 players.1111Rockstar never sought reporting restrictions on this evidence, so the 32-player figure became public record. For reference, the current GTA Online supports 30 players plus 2 spectator slots (32 total) in its largest lobby configuration. Whether GTA VI's 32-player count represents a similar or adjusted structure is not known.1313GTA Online Continuation1515Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed during the Q3 FY2026 earnings call (February 3, 2026) that the existing GTA Online will continue to receive support after GTA VI launches. His exact words: "I have every reason to believe we'll continue to support GTA Online. There's a great community that loves it, that stays engaged."1717Zelnick also cited Take-Two's track record with parallel products. He referenced NBA 2K Online in China, where an older online service continued running alongside its successor: "We did not sunset Online 1. They both are still in the market, and they serve consumers." This suggests the current GTA Online and GTA VI's online component will coexist rather than one replacing the other.1919GTA Online's recent performance supports continued investment. In Take-Two's most recent quarter, consumer spending on GTA Online grew 27%, driven by the "A Safehouse in the Hills" update released in December 2025. Recurrent consumer spending (microtransactions and post-launch content) grew 20% and accounted for 77% of Take-Two's total revenue that quarter.2121Revenue Expectations2323Take-Two projects record levels of net bookings in Fiscal Year 2027, the fiscal year covering GTA VI's launch window. Internal descriptions in financial filings characterize GTA VI's online component as "designed to generate revenue for years into the future."2626GTA Online has been one of the most financially successful online services in gaming history, generating billions through its Shark Card microtransaction system. Whether GTA VI's online mode uses a similar monetization approach has not been confirmed. Zelnick has confirmed that generative AI plays "zero part" in GTA VI's development.2828Session Management Technology3030Take-Two holds a US patent (a Rockstar patent filing, granted October 24, 2023) describing a system for seamless merging and splitting of multiplayer sessions. The patent outlines technology that enables "dynamic movement of players in a virtual world during gameplay without unnecessary loading and/or stalling."3232When players move apart beyond a threshold distance, their sessions split. When players from different sessions come within proximity, their sessions merge. The patent notes that "as virtual space in the world becomes larger, more players must occupy the space for the world to feel populated," which aligns with GTA VI's larger map requiring more sophisticated session management.3434Rockstar's Launch History3636Rockstar has a consistent pattern of launching online modes after the single-player campaign rather than simultaneously. This history provides context for how GTA VI's online component might roll out.3939GameSingle-Player LaunchOnline LaunchGapGrand Theft Auto VSeptember 17, 2013October 1, 2013Two weeksRed Dead Redemption 2October 26, 2018November 27, 2018 (beta)Approximately one month4141The parallel franchise online launch in 2013 experienced server issues, connection failures, and lost character progress at scale. Red Dead Online launched more smoothly in a beta format. Both online modes were later released as standalone products (GTA Online in March 2022, Red Dead Online in December 2020).4242What is Confirmed vs. Unconfirmed4444DetailStatusSourceOnline mode exists and is being playtestedConfirmedGlasgow court documents (January 2026)32-player sessions during playtestingConfirmedGlasgow court documents (January 2026)Current GTA Online will continue post-launchConfirmedStrauss Zelnick, Q3 FY2026 earnings callRecord net bookings projected for FY2027ConfirmedTake-Two financial guidanceSession merging/splitting technology patentedConfirmeda Rockstar patent filingSpecific game modes or activitiesUnconfirmedNo official details releasedLaunch timing (day one or post-launch)UnconfirmedNo official details releasedCharacter creation or progression systemsUnconfirmedNo official details releasedWhether existing GTA Online progress carries overUnconfirmedNo official details releasedPricing model (bundled, standalone, or free-to-play)UnconfirmedNo official details released46-Rockstar has not released any official trailersscreenshots, or descriptions of the online mode. Marketing for GTA VI is set to begin in summer 2026, which may include the first official look at the online component.46+Rockstar has not released any official trailers, screenshots, or descriptions of the online mode. Marketing for GTA VI is set to begin in summer 2026, which may include the first official look at the online component.
