Imagine a world where truth holds no weight, where declarations, however outlandish, are met with indifference. You could claim your dog possesses six legs, and face no repercussions. This isn’t a dystopian fantasy; it’s a glimpse into a potential reality arriving in 2026, where falsehoods uttered to millions, even under oath, may carry no consequence.
The discussion surrounding the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 recently took an unexpected turn. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick asserted that PC isn’t the company’s “core consumer,” a statement that ignited debate within the gaming community.
Zelnick explained that Rockstar prioritizes console releases because that’s where their primary audience resides. He believes focusing on the “core consumer” first is crucial for success, suggesting PC gamers are a secondary consideration.
This strategy has long been a source of frustration for PC enthusiasts. While porting a game can be demanding for smaller studios, the sheer scale of the Grand Theft Auto franchise – GTA 5 has sold over 200 million copies – makes the argument of limited resources seem improbable. The development of GTA 6 is estimated to exceed a billion dollars.
Modern game development has become increasingly streamlined for cross-platform compatibility. Both current-generation consoles utilize AMD architecture closely aligned with PCs, and popular game engines like Unreal 5 and Unity are designed for rapid deployment across multiple platforms. Rockstar’s own history demonstrates this, with PC versions of titles like GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 often boasting superior graphics and features.
Zelnick’s own data appears to contradict his claims. He revealed that PC sales for NBA 2K have risen from 5% to 45-50% since 2007. While Take-Two hasn’t released platform-specific sales figures for GTA 5 or Red Dead Redemption 2, the latter consistently ranks high on Steam charts, even surpassing newer, critically acclaimed titles like Baldur’s Gate III.
Determining the “core consumer” for Grand Theft Auto in 2026 remains elusive. Leaked Rockstar data indicates PlayStation 5 accounts for over half of in-game purchases in GTA Online, generating the bulk of revenue. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story.
The same leaked data reveals GTA 5 sold over 34 million copies on PC between June 2021 and March 2026, representing approximately 46% of total sales. Considering GTA 5’s age, this figure is particularly significant, suggesting a substantial demand from PC gamers for the next installment.
The prevailing theory suggests Rockstar intentionally delays PC releases to capitalize on multiple sales – appealing to gamers who own both consoles and PCs. This practice, described as “two bites at the apple,” has fostered resentment among PC players, yet hasn’t deterred them from ultimately purchasing Rockstar’s games.
If the prospect of waiting for a PC release of GTA 6 feels disheartening, consider this: Rockstar games often arrive on PC with initial bugs resolved and enhanced features added. The PC version of GTA 5, released in 2015, introduced the popular first-person mode. And, let’s be honest, most PC gamers likely have a backlog of unplayed titles to enjoy in the meantime.
