GTA 6 'online-only' fears grow as unofficial PC port threatens launch

The launch of Grand Theft Auto VI is being threatened on all sides right now, with Cyberleek wreaking havoc, boycotts still in the works and unofficial PS5 PC ports forcing Rockstar’s hand.

Rockstar Games has, as usual, been very quiet about the controversy surrounding GTA VI. It only really pipes up to tease new content like last week’s radio station reveal.

It’s been surprisingly cool about the Cyberleek situation especially, as the leaker has been threatening to leak the entire game online if the company doesn’t supply consumers with a physical GTA VI disc.

One issue it probably can’t ignore though is the growing trend of PS5 games becoming playable on PC without the need for an official PC port.

PS5 emulators grow more advanced every week and with a PC port of GTA VI still unconfirmed many are worried the rapidly advancing technology will have a knock-on effect for the upcoming AAA game.

“Lets Address the Elephant in the room” began u/PsyfreshPrime. “With the recent PS5 leaks and people already getting PS5 software running on PC, I feel like nobody is talking about how this could impact GTA 6.

“We also have these new AI decompiler tools that can help reverse engineer games and software, making stuff that used to take months or even years potentially way easier.”

It’s a worthy concern even if there are still a lot of barriers for getting a PS5 game on PC. It’s not like anyone is going to successfully decompile GTA VI on launch day.

That said, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility anymore. AI tools are indeed making it easier and easier and while it’s not a magical mystery cure it’s still worth thinking about it.

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How Rockstar Games might combat PS5 emulation for GTA VI

The best way to safeguard a game from unofficial PC ports is to force players to have an internet connection when playing.

First and foremost this verifies that you actually own the game. It also ensures that the platform you’re supposedly running the game on, which in GTA VI’s case would be a PS5 or an Xbox, actually exists.

Plenty of games force this internet requirement and it’s always irritating. I nearly refunded my copy of 007 First Light because it kept disconnecting from the IO Interactive servers, halting my gameplay in the process.

For GTA VI it probably wouldn’t have as big of an impact as gamers are going to play it regardless, but it’s not going to help with its rapidly deteriorating PR brand.

If it was any other game, the lack of a physical disc, a collector’s edition with no game, and forced online access would be the hat-trick that kills its chance of success come launch day. It’s only getting a pass because it’s a Grand Theft Auto game, and even then good will is still drying up.

Hopefully Rockstar Games doesn’t do anything reckless. While there’s always going to be the looming threat of an unofficial GTA VI PC port, the real deal hopefully won’t be too far behind the game’s November 19 launch, so we won’t even need one.

The more pressing matter is probably Cyberleek, who’s dangerously close to leaking some actual story spoilers.

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