Grand Theft Auto 6is the most anticipated video game in years, buteven it might not be able to beat its predecessor. More than a decade after the release ofGrand Theft Auto 5,Rockstar has only released a single trailer for the newest entry in the iconic series. Beyond the limited information that the teaser revealed about the setting and main characters, all fans know is thatthe game is expected to be released sometime in 2025.
What’s clear in the run-up toGrand Theft Auto 6is thatGrand Theft Auto 5is just as popular and lively as ever. Despite being released beforeHamiltoncame to Broadway orGuardians of the Galaxyhit theaters,GTA 5is still being regularly played by tens of thousands of gamers.GTA 6will have a hard time displacing a game that players have invested over a decade of time and money in, especially since hardware requirements will limit new players.
GTA 5’s Average Playercount Shows No Signs Of Slowing Down
Years And Years With Hundreds Of Thousands Of Players
Grand Theft Auto 5released on Steam on June 04, 2025 and reached its peak of 360,761 players immediately, according toSteam Charts, which still stands as the all-time record. After that initial huge start, the game slumped in the following months, with the lowest peak of 46,917 players in September 2015. Past that giant jump start and short-lived lull, the behemoth game has continued to consistently pull in huge numbers of players every month for nearly a decade. In fact,since April 2019,GTA 5has hit a peak of at least over 100,000 players every month.
How To Increase Your Stats In GTA Online
Stats in GTA Online can be individually increased to create a customized character with various abilities that let you make your mark in Los Santos.
In October 2024,GTA 5had a peak of 162,388 players on Steam alone. This number doesn’t count console players, which means thatthe actual number ofGTA 5players could be significantly higher. According to Steam,GTA 5is currently the eighth most-played game, beating out more recent titles likeBaldur’s Gate 3andApex Legends.
GTA 6 Has A Tough Challenge Ahead
Hardware Requirements, Mods, And Memories
GTA 5is one of the most popular video games of all time according to every metric of success. It has sold over205,000,000 units across all available platforms, putting it in second place only toMinecraftin thebest-selling video games of all time. This success hasn’t faded in the over ten years since its release, as players still flock to San Andreas to race, shoot, and explore endless custom minigames.
Tetrisalso has a claim to the best-selling throne, but its numbers take a lot of distinct releases into account.
WhileGTA 6might be expected to break any number of sales records uponrelease sometime in 2025, it will still havea tough job overtakingGTA 5in player numbers.GTA 5has overa decade of content and memories stored inside of it, as well as countless mods and custom game modes. Roleplaying alone, a massive category on Twitch, makes up a huge number of players who play in their own communities as anything ranging from cops and petty criminals to taxi drivers and small business owners.
GTA 6 Should Learn From Red Dead Redemption 2’s Storyline, Not GTA 5’s
Rockstar Studios should learn as much as possible for GTA 6’s story from RDR2’s Arthur Morgan, as he has one of the greatest character arcs in gaming.
The biggest challenge forGTA 6will behow it can outdo the success of its predecessor. Obviously,GTA 6won’t be able to immediately outshine a game that’s had a decade of success, butGTA 5might prove more difficult to displace in popularity than is expected. It won’t be surprising if, after an initial wave of huge numbers, bothGTA 5andGTA 6remain among the most-played games on Steam.
Fans Will Always Play GTA 5
Sunsetting Online May Be The Only Way GTA 5 Slows Down
IfGrand Theft Auto 5’s success over the past ten years has proved anything, it’s that it’s here to stay. Players have provenextraordinarily loyal to the open-world game, andit’s unlikely that they’ll abandon their hundreds, or even thousands, of gameplay hoursforGTA 6right away. The consistent releases of new content, missions, vehicles, and weapons have encouraged players to invest heavily in their online experience. Their purchases of special edition cars and guns probably won’t transfer toGTA 6, so they might not either, at least until they have to.
15 Best Things To Buy First In GTA 5 Online (Weapons, Cars, Businesses & Properties)
GTA Online can be a daunting place for new players when stepping into Los Santos, but it can be made much easier by buying the right things early.
The biggest factor for the continued success ofGTA 5,even after the release ofGTA 6, is what Rockstar will do withGTA Online. It seemsunlikely that the publisher will sunset the service anytime soon, but that will inevitably happen asa secondGTA OnlineaccompaniesGTA 6. Until then,GTA 5could see consistent player numbers despite the shiny new competition. Even if Rockstar decides to slowly wind down onGTA 5in the wake ofGrand Theft Auto 6,many players will stay loyal as long as they can keep their own servers going.
