GTA 6 Next-Gen Version Splits Gamers

While some gamers may still be highly doubtful of Grand Theft Auto 6 actually coming out this year, some promising new information suggests that we can already get our hopes up for what a next-gen Grand Theft Auto 6 will look like. Indeed, following the unceremonious and abrupt announcement of Xbox’s next-gen console, code-named Project Helix, it seems like it will not be too much longer until we get a taste of the Xbox Series X’s successor.

Per the Xbox Wire blog, Xbox Vice President of Next Generation Jason Ronald announced during GDC that the plan is to “ship alpha versions of the hardware to developers beginning in 2027.” If studios are receiving Project Helix devkits as early as next year, it would not be out of the realm of possibility for the console to launch in the near future, and a next-gen version of Grand Theft Auto 6 may not be far behind.

Project Helix Devkits Set For 2027

Project Helix alpha devkits going out to developers in 2027 would obviously be a massive boon, allowing studios to become acquainted with the hardware and tap into its full graphical and performance capabilities. No specific date or window beyond 2027 was announced, but it is great to know that studios will likely have access to the console in a year.

Assuming everything goes swimmingly and its early-holiday release date is adhered to, Grand Theft Auto 6 will have launched by the time Rockstar gets its hands on a Project Helix devkit. Official plans for a Grand Theft Auto Online successor or the ongoing service are undetermined. Butwith any luck, we may see next-gen Grand Theft Auto 6 footage sooner than weanticipated.

Wary of this gap, Twitter/X user SnrBuns says, “It would be upgraded to this new hardware by the time the game is 2-3 maybe even more years pushing 2030 by the time it gets a next gen update.”

We Could See GTA 6 Next-Gen Early On

If Project Helix launches in a few years, there will be plenty of time for gamers to enjoy Grand Theft Auto 6 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and potentially PC, depending on when it arrives on PC post-launch. However, it will be fascinating to see how much better it can look and perform on the next-gen console.

This is especially true compared to how gorgeous it already looks, as captured on current-gen hardware and showcased in Grand Theft Auto 6’s trailers. As Twitter/X user SectorShadow Gaming states, “Rockstar with stronger hardware is a dangerous combo. If they already pushed current-gen this far, GTA 6 on future hardware could be insane.”

Therefore, gamers should maybe steel themselves for Grand Theft Auto 6, possibly delaying its own next-gen version, for whatever reason. Meanwhile, it is thrilling to know that the new console generation is now on the horizon, and it will be interesting to see how Rockstar wishes to wield it as a resource.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to be released for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19, 2026.