PC gamers hoping to jump into Grand Theft Auto VI on day one will have to wait a bit longer. GTA 6 is currently set for November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but Rockstar has not announced a PC version for launch.
And according to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, this is not some hidden PlayStation exclusivity situation.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Zelnick said Rockstar’s approach has traditionally been to launch major GTA titles on console first. His explanation is basically this: for a game as huge as GTA, Rockstar wants to make sure the core audience is served properly before expanding elsewhere.
That matters because plenty of players have been speculating that Sony’s co-marketing arrangement with Rockstar might be the reason PC is missing at launch. Zelnick directly pushed back on that idea, saying the console-first strategy is simply how Rockstar has historically handled its biggest releases.
PC Is Bigger Now, But Rockstar Is Still Going Console-First
The awkward part is that PC is not some tiny bonus platform anymore. Zelnick himself acknowledged how much things have changed since he joined Take-Two in 2007. Back then, PC reportedly made up only around 5% of NBA 2K sales volume. Today, he said a major release can see PC contribute around 45% to 50% of sales.
So yes, PC is massive now. For Malaysian and SEA gamers, this is especially obvious. A lot of us are on gaming laptops, custom PCs, cybercafes, or handheld PCs instead of owning both current-gen consoles. Steam is also where many players prefer to wait for regional pricing, mods, performance tweaks, and long-term community support.
But GTA 6 is GTA 6. Rockstar can afford to move differently. A console-first launch gives the studio a cleaner target: two console families, fixed hardware, fewer weird driver issues, and probably a more controlled first impression. For a game carrying expectations this gila, that control is valuable.
Expect A Huge Second Wave When PC Arrives
Zelnick also noted that launching on PC later could create another big sales moment. Some players may even buy GTA 6 twice — first on console, then again on PC for better performance, mods, or just because that is where their main gaming library lives.
That strategy already worked in the past. GTA 5 became one of the biggest games ever, with over 225 million copies sold, and GTA Online turned it into a long-running money machine. GTA 6 is expected to be enormous too, with projections mentioned in the report pointing to 40 million copies sold and more than $3 billion in revenue in its first year.
Zelnick admitted that launching GTA 6 is both exciting and frightening because expectations are so high. Honestly, fair. This is not just another open-world game; this is the sequel to one of the most commercially dominant games in history.
What This Means For Malaysia And SEA
For local players, the main question now is whether to buy a console for GTA 6 or wait for PC. If you already own a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, you are set for launch. If you are mainly on PC, the wait may hurt, but it might also mean a more polished version later.
Pricing is another thing to watch. Rockstar has not confirmed GTA 6’s launch price, though Zelnick recently said it would be at a “reasonable” level. Bank of America has reportedly suggested an $80 price point, which would be spicy for Malaysian wallets if converted directly or reflected in local pricing.
For now, the message is clear: GTA 6 is going console-first because Rockstar wants to prioritise its biggest launch audience, not because PC got blocked by a PlayStation deal.
Source: GameSpot