The wait for GTA 6 has taken another sharp turn, but PC players feel the impact most. With Rockstar confirming a new console launch window of November 2026 and no mention of a Windows version PC fans are left in familiar territory: sidelined, speculating and frustrated. Yet even as Rockstar holds to its traditional release strategy, Take-Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick openly acknowledges that the center of gravity in gaming is shifting toward PC.
Take-Two Recognizes the Rise of PC Gaming
During an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Zelnick offered a candid assessment of the industry’s trajectory. “I think it’s moving towards PC and business is moving towards open rather than closed,” he said, referring to the long-standing divide between console ecosystems and the increasingly flexible PC space.
His comment aligns with research from Newzoo and Circana, which shows a slowdown in console adoption since 2021, contrasted by steady growth in desktop and laptop gaming. These reports reflect a broader trend: hardware cycles are longer, players expect cross-platform access, and PC storefronts from Steam to the Epic Games Store continue to expand their catalogues.
For the industry, the direction seems clear. For Rockstar, not so much.
Why Rockstar Continues to Delay PC Versions
Rockstar’s track record is well known. Grand Theft Auto V arrived on Windows 19 months after its original console debut. Red Dead Redemption 2 reached PC roughly a year after the PlayStation and Xbox editions. It’s a pattern sometimes frustrating, but consistent.
The studio’s preference has always centered on polishing console editions first, then shifting technical focus to PC optimization, especially for a game as large as GTA 6. Its proprietary launcher, online infrastructure and resource pipelines demand meticulous tuning. The upside for Rockstar is stability and performance. The trade-off for players is the long wait.
Even as PC gaming booms, Rockstar remains cautious. And for now, nothing suggests that GTA 6 will break from the company’s established release cadence.
The Console Landscape Heading Into 2026
By the time GTA 6 lands, the hardware environment may look very different. The Xbox Series X is already becoming less visible at retail due to lower production volumes and shifting corporate priorities. Without confirmation of a Switch 2 version, Rockstar’s next blockbuster increasingly appears to be a PS5-centered launch.
That reality has led some analysts to argue that ignoring PC at launch is a missed opportunity, particularly when the platform is expanding faster than any console. But Zelnick maintains a pragmatic view: consoles still dominate living-room gaming, and that alone ensures their relevance.
“Consoles offer the most seamless way to play in shared spaces,” he noted, suggesting that living-room play remains a pillar of mainstream gaming culture.
Platforms are Blurring But Not Fast Enough for GTA 6
Microsoft continues to narrow the divide between PC and Xbox. Its handheld strategy now leans heavily on Windows OS, echoing the ecosystem flexibility seen with the ROG Ally and similar devices. Valve is also bolstering PC-to-TV experiences, most recently with its reimagined Steam Machine initiative. Sony, too, is rumored to be exploring cross-buy features between PS5 and PC something that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.
Despite these industry shifts, Rockstar remains firmly rooted in its traditional timeline. Early adopters will get GTA 6 on consoles. PC users, once again, will wait.
Will Rockstar Change Its Approach?
Many critics argue it’s time for Rockstar to modernize its release strategy. With PC gaming more profitable, more influential and more technically capable than ever, staggered launches seem increasingly outdated. But history shows that Rockstar prizes control, polish and stable ecosystems above early multi-platform parity.
The market may be changing, but Rockstar’s formula still works. PS5 sales remain strong, and analysts expect the console-first strategy to deliver extraordinary numbers for GTA 6’s launch year. Whether this approach will remain sustainable in a PC-dominated future is another question entirely.
The Bottom Line
For now, nothing indicates that Rockstar is preparing to accelerate the GTA 6 PC release. Zelnick may acknowledge PC’s growing strength, but acknowledgment isn’t action. As the studio focuses on its console debut delayed, polished and tightly controlled PC players will once again be asked to wait patiently.
It’s a familiar story. And despite a rapidly evolving gaming landscape, Rockstar seems comfortable telling it one more time.