Take-Two on GTA Online's Future

The Future of GTA Online After GTA 6's Release: What We Know

The impending release of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) in Fall 2025 has left many GTA Online players wondering about the fate of their beloved online world. Will their investments of time and money be rendered obsolete by a new iteration? This question remains largely unanswered, but recent comments from Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick offer some intriguing insight.

GTA Online, a massively successful live service, continues to thrive over a decade after its launch. Its profitability has arguably influenced Rockstar's decision to prioritize it over single-player DLC for GTA 5, a point of contention for some fans. However, the launch of GTA 6 raises a more immediate concern: will the existing GTA Online be abandoned in favor of a successor, potentially dubbed GTA Online 2?

Players fear losing their progress and investments in the current game. Why invest now, in early 2025, when a new version might arrive in just a few months? This question was posed to Zelnick, who drew a parallel to Take-Two's handling of the NBA 2K Online franchise.

NBA 2K Online, launched in 2012, was followed by NBA 2K Online 2 in 2017. Significantly, both versions were maintained concurrently, ensuring players of the original game weren't left behind.

Zelnick stated, while avoiding specifics about GTA Online due to unannounced projects, that Take-Two generally supports its properties as long as players remain engaged. He highlighted the continued success of both NBA 2K Online titles as an example of this commitment. His key statement: "We've shown a willingness to support legacy titles when a community wants to be engaged with them."

This suggests, though doesn't confirm, that a potential GTA Online 2 wouldn't necessarily replace the original. Continued player engagement in the current GTA Online could lead to its continued support alongside any new version.

While much remains unknown about GTA 6 beyond its Fall 2025 release window and a single trailer, Rockstar will need to provide more information soon. The anticipation is high, especially considering the recently announced September release of Borderlands 4. Until then, the question of GTA Online's future remains a topic of much speculation and debate.