In short
- GTA 6 launches on Thursday 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- The 7 things people are most excited for: Vice City, a busier world, better combat, small details, smarter cops, the Jason and Lucia duo, and the story.
- The 6 real concerns: 30 FPS, the price and missing disc, no PC or GTA Online at launch, day-one bugs, Rockstar's staff firings, and sky-high expectations.
- Some of this comes from footage rather than Rockstar's word, and we've said where.
We went through the GTA 6 trailers, the 27-minute Extended Look and what players are saying online to find what people are most hyped for, and what's worth worrying about. We've counted down from 7 for the hype, and from 6 for the concerns. For each concern, we say whether we think it really matters.
What are people most excited for in GTA 6?
7. Vice City is back
Vice City is the GTA that made the series iconic: neon, palm trees and an 80s soundtrack. GTA 6 brings it back inside Leonida, Rockstar's version of Florida, rebuilt from scratch.
6. A world that feels alive
The first thing people noticed in the Extended Look was how busy everything is. Streets are packed, there are nightclubs you can walk into, plus diners and salons. There's even an elevator ride with Phil Collins' "Against All Odds" playing, as Kotaku spotted. Netflix confirmed the footage was captured on a base PS5, TechRadar reported.
5. Combat that finally feels right
GTA V's shooting was always fine. Just fine. In the Extended Look, combat looks much closer to Red Dead Redemption 2, with a hint of Max Payne 3. You can pick guns up off the ground, and weapons look heavier, with more recoil, as Beebom details.
4. The little details
This is where you can tell it's made by the Red Dead 2 team. In the Extended Look, you can steal a car quietly with a Slim Jim instead of smashing the window, or grab a beer from the fridge and watch TV. None of it changes the world, but it makes it feel real.
3. Smarter cops
In GTA V, you could lose the police by hiding behind a wall for 10 seconds. In the Extended Look, destroying the getaway car didn't clear the wanted level. That suggests you'll have to really lose them, maybe by changing cars or clothes. Rockstar hasn't confirmed this; it's what the footage hints at.
2. Jason and Lucia as a duo
GTA V had three characters, but they mostly lived separate lives. GTA 6 is built around a duo. The character you're not controlling fights beside you and helps with robberies, and you can switch to Lucia in the middle of a getaway. It's GTA as a team.
1. The story
GTA 6's first trailer opens with Lucia in prison, and the Extended Look shows a heist going wrong. There are new characters like Boobie, Brian and Raul, and the whole thing is built on a relationship that already looks like it's heading somewhere dangerous. After 13 years, people want a story that hits like Red Dead Redemption 2's did.
What are the real concerns about GTA 6?
6. It runs at 30 FPS on consoles
Rockstar North's Rob Nelson said the consoles currently run GTA 6 at 30 frames per second, and the team hadn't decided on a 60 FPS mode, VGC reported. Our take: this could be a problem for players used to 60 FPS.
5. $80, $100 and no disc
The Standard Edition is $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition is $99.99, compared with $59.99 for GTA V. Boxed copies have no disc inside, just a download code, Push Square reported. Our take: the price is steep, but if GTA 6 lasts like GTA V, the cost per hour ends up tiny. The missing disc is the bigger long-term issue, because you can't resell the game or lend it to a friend.
4. No PC and no GTA Online at launch
GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only. GTA Online isn't there at launch either: it's expected in 2027, based on Bloomberg's reporting covered by Beebom, but Rockstar hasn't given a date. Our take: this hurts PC players, but for everyone else it means GTA 6 is a story game first, not a Shark Card machine.
3. Day-one bugs
Rockstar doesn't always nail launch day. GTA Online barely worked when it launched in 2013, Red Dead Redemption 2's PC version crashed constantly in 2019, and the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition was a mess in 2021. Our take: expect some bugs in week one.
2. Rockstar's staff firings
This one's more serious. In late 2025, Rockstar fired more than 30 staff. Rockstar and Take-Two said they shared confidential information in a public forum and that it had nothing to do with unions, while the union disputes that, PC Gamer reports.
1. The expectations
The biggest concern is the 13 years of waiting. GTA 6 has around $750 million in pre-orders, according to Sensor Tower estimates reported by Dexerto. There have been Netflix premieres and cities rebranding themselves as Vice City. When expectations get this high, a game can be a 9 out of 10 and still feel like a disappointment.
What we don't know yet
- Whether a 60 FPS mode will come at launch or later.
- Whether the smarter wanted system works the way the footage suggests.
- When GTA Online and the PC version will actually arrive.
Watch: our video
Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. Playing it loads the video from youtube-nocookie.com, and Google can then store information on your device (see our cookie policy).
FAQ
Is GTA 6 60 FPS?
Not confirmed. Rockstar said the consoles currently run it at 30 FPS, and a 60 FPS mode hadn't been decided.
How much does GTA 6 cost?
$79.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition.
Does GTA 6 have a disc?
No. Boxed copies contain a download code, not a disc.
Read next
- GTA 6 Runs at 30 FPS, Costs $80 and Has No Disc: Should You Be Worried?
- We Waited 13 Years for GTA 6. Was It Worth It?
- Is GTA 6 Already Too Big to Live Up to the Hype?
We'll update this story when GTA 6 launches and we can test it ourselves.