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

The impending release of GTA 6 in Fall 2025 has sparked considerable speculation among GTA Online players regarding the fate of their long-standing investment in the game. With GTA Online's continued profitability and popularity, the question of whether Rockstar will abandon the original in favor of a new iteration (potentially GTA Online 2) is paramount.

Concerns center around the potential for a "clean break," rendering players' time, effort, and in-game purchases obsolete. This concern prompted IGN to question Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick. While Zelnick avoided specifics regarding future GTA Online plans due to unannounced projects, he offered insight based on Take-Two's handling of NBA 2K Online.

The NBA 2K franchise serves as a relevant example. NBA 2K Online (launched in 2012) and its sequel, NBA 2K Online 2 (launched in 2017), coexisted successfully. Both titles remained operational, catering to a large player base. Zelnick emphasized Take-Two's commitment to supporting legacy titles with active communities.

This suggests that a potential GTA Online 2 wouldn't necessarily mean the end of the original. Continued player engagement, according to Zelnick, would likely result in ongoing support for the existing GTA Online.

However, much remains unknown about GTA 6. With only a trailer and a release window confirmed, Rockstar needs to provide further details soon, especially considering the proximity to the announced September release of Borderlands 4. The coming months will be crucial in clarifying the future of GTA Online.