Grand Theft Auto 5 has been one of the most profitable entertainment products of all time and is still going strong almost 8 years after its original release. While the launch Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will no longer be supported after some time, Rockstar seems to be focused on moving forward with next-gen ports slated for release later this year.
There's still no concrete news about the development and potential release date for Grand Theft Auto 6, but fans have been clamoring to every morsel of information to help find something related to the matter. Some fans would rather see Rockstar go ahead and release a new game instead of porting the last one, but from a business and development perspective, it all makes sense.
It's certainly hard to deny the sentiment since Grand Theft Auto 5 is the biggest ace up Rockstar's sleeve as it continues to get bigger and bigger. However, these ports might benefit Grand Theft Auto 6 in the long run.
Testing The Waters With PS5, Xbox Series X
While games like the recently released Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart are great showcases for next-gen potential, most developers haven't fully grasped how to leverage the extra horsepower that next-gen consoles boast. Grand Theft Auto 5 might just be Rockstar's first project with next-gen hardware since there's nothing but unconfirmed rumors and speculation about Grand Theft Auto 6's development. Porting the games would certainly help the developer to get a firm grasp of what's exactly possible with the new hardware. High-speed SSDs in the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are integral to crafting the most beautiful and expansive open worlds, which should help in creating a better technical framework for its game engine to make full use of this power.
In addition to this, there's also a great possibility of Grand Theft Auto 5 on next-gen featuring bigger and more chaotic heists than ever. While this might not directly relate to Grand Theft Auto 6 in any way, it is certainly great for fans who still play the game.
Making GTA 6 The Best It Can Be
It's no secret that Grand Theft Auto 6 is probably still quite some ways off, and fan excitement has been blowing off the roof lately. It's also bound to get bigger with time, and it's certainly best to give fans a fix of some Grand Theft Auto action while the numerous studios under Rockstar's belt, presumably, continue to work on the next entry.
Like most forms of entertainment, video games are no stranger to hype culture. Rockstar is playing it safe by not revealing anything until there's something substantial to show for it, and a souped-up port of an already successful and alive game definitely goes a long way in making sure fans aren't left starving for long.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is available now on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions release on November 11, 2021.