GTA 6's ambitious open world could be bad news for players hoping for 60fps

Grand Theft Auto VI players hoping to explore Rockstar Games' ambitious open world at 60fps could be in for a disappointment, with speculation mounting over the game's performance. However, Rockstar will need to balance visual quality and performance to deliver the best possible experience on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

It's hard to believe we're just three weeks away from the launch of GTA VI. Fans waited a decade for the first official trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto game, with those infamous gameplay leaks arriving before its official reveal in December 2023.

With so much hype surrounding GTA VI, anything less than a near-perfect launch could disappoint fans. Noticeable frame-rate drops or stuttering could also generate the kind of negative publicity Rockstar will want to avoid.

Why GTA 6 might struggle to hit 60fps on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

Simply put, running GTA VI at 60fps could prove challenging for current-gen consoles, even the more powerful PS5 Pro. Recent speculation has focused on leaked references to performance and fidelity modes, with some suggesting the game could offer different graphics options. However, these references don't confirm which modes will be available in the final release, and Rockstar Games has yet to officially announce the game's frame rate.

This wouldn't be anything new for the Grand Theft Auto series, either. When GTA V launched on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013, it targeted 30fps. The game subsequently arrived on PS4 and Xbox One in 2014, before its PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions introduced graphics modes targeting up to 60fps in 2022.

GTA V on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S offers three graphics modes on the PS5 and Xbox Series X, while the Xbox Series S has two. Here's how they compare:

• Fidelity mode: Targets 30fps, prioritising visual quality. PS5 and Xbox Series X support native 4K resolution with ray tracing, while Xbox Series S uses upscaled 4K.
• Performance mode: Targets 60fps for a smoother gameplay experience, with different resolutions depending on the console.
• Performance RT mode: Targets 60fps while retaining ray tracing, combining visual enhancements with smoother gameplay. This mode is available on PS5 and Xbox Series X, but not Xbox Series S.

Based on this history, expecting GTA VI to run at 60fps on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S may be optimistic. However, until Rockstar confirms the game's performance targets, it's too early to rule out a 60fps mode.

READ MORE: 12 famous GTA 5 voice actors you probably didn't realise were in the game

How Rockstar could get GTA 6 running at 60fps on consoles

Rockstar Games could follow a similar approach to GTA V by releasing an enhanced version of GTA VI for the PlayStation 6 and next-generation Xbox consoles further down the line. That's purely speculative at this stage, though, as neither an enhanced version nor a future console release has been announced.

Even with more powerful hardware, there's no guarantee that a future version would deliver 60fps alongside the highest graphical settings. Developers still have to balance performance and visual quality, depending on the hardware and the demands of the game.

PC could eventually offer another way to experience GTA VI at 4K and 60fps, depending on the game's optimisation and the hardware available. Of course, Rockstar hasn't announced a PC version yet, so it's too early to say how well the game might perform on that platform.

That said, Rockstar will presumably aim to deliver the best possible experience on the platforms it supports. And if an enhanced version does arrive on future consoles, some fans may be willing to splash the cash all over again.

Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.