Former GTA Dev Predicts 30 FPS for GTA 6 on Consoles, PC Gamers May Get Lucky

After years of hype, speculation and a terrible drought of information, Grand Theft Auto VI has become something of a holy grail in gaming, with fans desperately seeking any morsel of information about Rockstar Games' next title - and in lieu of such information, there are always countless voices trying to step up.

As the company maintains its trademark silence, industry insiders have stepped in to fill the massive information void. Unlike previous insights that came from people that aren't in the know so to speak, this one came from a credible source and they're shedding light on what players might expect from GTA 6 in terms of performance.

Mike York, a former Rockstar animator who worked on both Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, recently shared his thoughts on GTA 6's potential frame rate. In an interview with YouTuber Kiwi Talkz, York dropped a bombshell that may disappoint console players: he expects GTA 6 to run at 30 frames per second on consoles.

"I don't think they'll be able to pull off 60fps," York stated. "They're likely aiming for a rock-solid 30fps that never dips below that mark." This prediction may come as a blow to optimistic fans who were hoping for smoother gameplay on next-gen consoles.

York explained that Rockstar's priority would be to create a visually stunning and immersive world, even if it means sacrificing higher frame rates. "They're going to squeeze every little thing they can out of it," he said, emphasizing the developer's commitment to pushing graphical boundaries.

However, it's not all doom and gloom for performance enthusiasts. York suggested that post-launch optimization could potentially boost frame rates above 30fps, possibly hitting 40 or even 52fps in certain scenarios. He also hinted at the possibility of AI upscaling technology on the PlayStation 5 Pro, which could help achieve higher frame rates without raw hardware power alone.

For those seeking the ultimate GTA 6 experience, York pointed to the PC platform as the best bet for achieving 60fps gameplay. "Once it's on PC, it'll probably get super optimized and changed," he predicted. "New graphics cards will come out, and you'll likely be able to run it at 60fps at that point."

While informed by his experience at Rockstar, York's statements are speculative at best. He left the company in 2017 and admits he's not privy to inside information about GTA 6's development. "I don't know what they're doing over there or how massive this is going to be," he clarified.

The brief glimpse of Vice City shown in the GTA 6 trailer showcased stunning graphics that push current hardware to its limits. It's understandable if there's some sort of compromise. And, to be honest, this is in line with what previous industry experts have said about what fans should expect from GTA 6 on consoles.

Given that GTA 6 wants to appeal to the masses, a stable frame rate is arguably more crucial than raw numbers. A consistent 30fps experience could be preferable to one that fluctuates wildly, potentially breaking immersion during intense moments. As fans continue to dissect every GTA 6 rumor and speculation, they can keep themselves busy by reading up on what else is going on in Grand Theft Auto, including the Lunar New Year Update in Grand Theft Auto Online and Steven Ogg's proposal for a cameo in GTA 6.