The festive period is finally here and in between fighting over those Black Friday deals and being told not to touch the “Christmas food” in the fridge, it is time to decide which game we will be spending the remainder of the year playing.
With the festive period being a time where we spend time with family and friends (whether we like it or not) being able to dive into a multiplayer experience is always appreciated.
As a result, many will be returning to the familiar, snow-soaked streets of Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto Online, especially as this may be the last year we get to do so.
Released back in 2013 alongside Grand Theft Auto V, Grand Theft Auto Online has been the constant companion of players over the years thanks to regular updates courtesy of Rockstar and its thriving roleplaying community.
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However, it was Twitter user Joker which recently came to the realisation that this may very well be our last year playing GTA Online as we know it as a brand-new iteration will launch alongside Grand Theft Auto VI.
At the time of writing, and following multiple delays, Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to launch on 19 November 2026 which means that, if it stays on track, we may be spending the next Christmas period in Vice City rather than Los Santos.
The End of an Era
“This year will be our last Christmas in GTA 5”, Joker posted, alongside various screenshots taken over the years of their escapades in GTA Online over the festive period.
As you can imagine, the realisation came as a shock to many other fans who took to the comments to share their thoughts.
“An entire era just ended,” one user wrote.
“From my childhood all the way through my teenage years. I honestly can’t even imagine missing it yet, but damn... it was a huge part of my life.”
“December 2013,” another added. “You just had to be there!”
Of course, there is still a major elephant in the room.
After multiple delays courtesy of Rockstar Games, who is to say that Grand Theft Auto VI won’t be delayed again, meaning that this is not actually our last Christmas with GTA 5?
Well, only time will tell on that one but there is no denying that despite it being the end of an era, Grand Theft Auto fans are ready to move on and dive into the next iteration and the future of the franchise.
“You keep saying that. Stop jinxing it,” another user replied, in response to Joker having reportedly made this same post multiple times over the past few years.
All we can do is hope that Grand Theft Auto VI will not receive another delay and that Christmas 2026 will be spent in the snow-lined streets of Vice City and beyond.
On second thoughts, snow and Miami don't really mix...
Topics: GTA, GTA 5, GTA 6, GTA Online, Rockstar Games