Whatever the GTA 6 Online mode looks like, its player base has one major issue that it needs to address ahead of release day.

Grand Theft Auto Online has been hugely successful for developer Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two Interactive.

In fact, saying hugely successful is likely an understatement, given that the now-standalone GTA 5 multiplayer has brought in billions of dollars in revenue since its launch.

The online mode was so successful that it seems to have been responsible for Rockstar canceling GTA 5 single-player DLC, including what sounds like an incredible ‘Agent Trevor‘ storyline in which Steven Ogg’s character attempted to be a secret agent.

But GTA Online fans have a major problem to contend with before the game launches in Fall 2025.

The PS4 Issue

According to new statistics revealed by market analysts Ampere, a huge percentage of GTA Online players are still currently playing on PS4.

In fact, of the 20 million+ active GTA Online users, the analysts state that the most active platform “by some distance” is the PS4.

Ampere reports that millions more users are still playing on Xbox One, as well as PC platform Steam.

The issue here, of course, is that GTA 6 is not coming to last-gen consoles – nor has the game been announced for PC at this point in time.

Therefore, those fans who are yet to upgrade from PS4 or Xbox One hardware (or those in the PC community) will not be able to experience whatever GTA 6 Online ends up looking like, without laying down some serious cash for a current-gen console.

Although there’s still plenty of time before GTA 6’s Fall 2025 launch, Ampere suggests that a ‘noteworthy share of players’ will still be yet to purchase a current-gen console by release day.

PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles are a lot easier to find nowadays when compared to their launch back in 2020. However, the ongoing cost of living crisis may restrict some fans from being able to buy a new device just for GTA 6.

Will GTA 6 Online See a Delayed Launch?

It’s important to note that, as of right now, GTA 6 Online has not officially been confirmed. However, given how profitable the mode has been for GTA 5, its existence is all but certain.

GTA 5’s online multiplayer went live two weeks after the launch of the base game.

This has caused some fans to suggest that GTA 6’s online component won’t be available on release day either, which could explain why Rockstar is so hesitant to confirm it.

We don’t yet know whether GTA 6 will replace GTA Online, but if we had to guess, we’d say that both modes will run side-by-side for some time.

Therefore, if you’re still on PS4 or Xbox One, you won’t be forced to switch to new hardware right away – unless you’re desperate to play GTA 6 Online.

And given that live service for the older title will likely end soon after the new game’s launch, we think many fans will pick up a new console when GTA 6 finally arrives.