‘GTA 6’ release date: Is the next entry going to be next-gen console exclusive?

“GTA 6” isn’t expected to arrive soon as it will likely hit the shelves after next-gen consoles are in the hands of the gaming community. So don’t expect it until 2021 or at a later date.

But apart from “GTA 6” still a few years off, another bad news is that the game may be unplayable for the PS4 and Xbox One. The speculation is rooted in the fact that the next entry is being developed to take advantage of the specs of next-gen consoles.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick recently said that the new tech of the gaming world is set to take the entire ecosystem to its next phase. While he didn’t mention “GTA 6,” there’s no doubt that they’re eyeing the franchise to benefit from this as photorealism is a great way to immerse players, especially with the setting of the game’s world.

GTA 6 unlikely to be next-gen console exclusive

“We have a new console generation coming, and that's going to allow us to do some things that we haven't been able to do before creatively, and that's exciting. But as I've said before, we are going to reach a point where you won't be able to tell the difference between what's created in the computer and what's real,” Zelnick told CNBC. So does this mean “GTA 6” will indeed be unplayable with the aforementioned consoles?

That’s unlikely. Given the number of people who own PS4 and Xbox One, it would be a massive blunder on the part of Rockstar and Take-Two to make “GTA 6” a next-gen console exclusive. Both these companies are all about maximizing profits, and they can’t do that if they limit the reach of the title.

With regards to the “violence” criticism that may plague “GTA 6,” Strauss said that it’s “disrespectful” to blame the entertainment industry for such atrocities. The CEO cited that even with violent games being a worldwide phenomenon, gun violence is strictly unique to the U.S. alone. He ended his statement by saying that the real issues need to be addressed, likely referring to gun laws and mental illness that are often times pushed to the sideline.

New GTA 6 rumors spark after Rockstar North takes down RDR2 banner

As for when “GTA 6” might be announced, the news could be coming out soon. The speculation is due to Rockstar North – the studio handling the “GTA” franchise – taking down the poster of “RDR2.”

It’s still unclear why they took the banner down, but assumptions are saying that it may be because “GTA 6” may replace it in the coming months. Rockstar is known for releasing announcements years before a title hit the shelves and the developers may be looking to give the sixth installment a similar treatment, Inverse reported. Of course, with Rockstar and Take-Two not going into specifics, it’s best to remain skeptical until both entities break their silence regarding the game.