Rockstar calls GTA 6 a single-player experience: there will be no online mode on launch day, and there is no date for GTA 6 Online. Here is what is official, what insiders report and what happens to the current GTA Online.
What Rockstar has officially said
When it announced pre-orders on June 24, 2026, Rockstar Games stated plainly that Grand Theft Auto VI is a single player experience. The same post said nothing about an online mode, multiplayer or co-op, and there is still no date for GTA 6 Online.
So on November 19 you get a story campaign as Jason and Lucia and the open world of Leonida, with no online sessions with other players.
When GTA 6 Online could come out
Officially, nobody knows. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier and, according to press reports, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy have mentioned 2027. Rockstar has not commented, so treat this as rumor.
Some headlines claim "GTA 6 Online officially delayed". That is inaccurate: Rockstar never named a date for the online mode, so there was nothing to delay.
What happens to GTA Online
The current GTA Online, the online mode of GTA 5, carries on: Rockstar keeps releasing updates and weekly events for it. Nothing official is known about carrying characters, money or cars over from GTA Online to a future GTA 6 online mode.
A digital GTA 6 pre-order includes one month of GTA+, the existing paid GTA Online membership with bonuses. After the free month it renews automatically.
Official vs rumor: what we know about GTA 6 Online
| Claim | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GTA 6 is single-player at launch | Official | Rockstar Newswire, June 24, 2026 |
| GTA Online for GTA 5 keeps getting updates | Official | Rockstar Newswire |
| One month of GTA+ with a digital pre-order | Official | PlayStation Store, Xbox Store |
| GTA 6 Online launches in 2027 | Rumor | Bloomberg, comments by Twitch's CEO |
| "GTA 6 Online has been officially delayed" | False | Rockstar hasn't given a date |
| GTA Online characters will carry over to GTA 6 | Not announced | — |
| Crossplay between PS5 and Xbox | Not announced | — |
We update this table as soon as Rockstar publishes anything new about online.
Crossplay and subscriptions
Crossplay only matters where there's shared play, so it isn't relevant for GTA 6 at launch. In the current GTA Online, PlayStation, Xbox and PC players play separately. Rockstar hasn't said whether that will change in the new online mode. Details on our GTA 6 crossplay page.
Online console games usually require a paid platform subscription: PlayStation Plus on PS5 and the corresponding Game Pass tier on Xbox. You don't need one for GTA 6's story. Whether you'll need one for a future GTA 6 Online will be known once Rockstar announces the mode itself.
What to do while there's no online
- Play the story. GTA 6 is single-player at launch, so start with the story. Where to begin is covered in our beginner tips guide.
- Don't lose your month of GTA+. On PS5 you have to activate it by March 31, 2027; on Xbox, within 180 days of purchase. After the month the membership renews automatically, so turn off auto-renewal if you don't plan to pay.
- Play the current GTA Online. We post weekly bonuses and discounts on our GTA Online weekly update page.
GTA 6 Online: frequently asked questions
Will GTA 6 have online?
Not at launch. Rockstar calls GTA 6 a single-player game, and no date for an online mode has been announced.
When is the GTA 6 Online release date?
There is no official date. Unofficial reports mention 2027.
Can I play GTA 6 with friends?
Not at launch: co-op and multiplayer are not part of the announcement.
Will GTA Online shut down after GTA 6 comes out?
Rockstar has not announced any shutdown, and GTA Online keeps getting updates.
Will my GTA Online character carry over to GTA 6?
Nothing official is known about that.
Will GTA 6 Online have crossplay?
Rockstar hasn't announced the online mode or crossplay. In the current GTA Online, players on different platforms play separately.
Do you need PS Plus for GTA 6?
Not for the story. Requirements for the future online mode haven't been announced; online games on PS5 usually require a PlayStation Plus subscription.
When do I have to activate the month of GTA+ from my pre-order?
On PS5, by March 31, 2027. On Xbox, within 180 days of purchase. The offer only applies to digital pre-orders.
Sources
- Official: Rockstar Games, Rockstar Newswire, Rockstar Support, Take-Two Interactive
- Databases and guides: GTABase, GTA Wiki, GTA BOOM, PowerPyx
- Press: GamesRadar, PC Gamer, IGN, VGC, Game Informer
Every fact is checked against official sources or at least two independent ones; player-sourced data is labelled in the text. Images are official Rockstar Games material. GTA Top is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.