Over a decade old, Grand Theft Auto V is thriving in 2025. Following the release of the massive "A Safehouse in the Hills" update, Rockstar's 11-year-old open-world juggernaut rocketed from 8th place in November to become the 3rd most downloaded PS5 game in December. The PS4 version fared even better, climbing to 2nd place in North America and 4th across Europe.
For a game that first launched when the PlayStation 4 was brand new, these numbers are nothing short of extraordinary. This isn't a fluke or a one-time surge either - according to Circana's Player Engagement Tracker, GTA V has ranked as the 3rd most played game on Christmas Day for four consecutive years, from 2022 through 2025. While other blockbusters rise and fall, Los Santos remains a holiday tradition for millions of players worldwide.
The driving force behind December's download surge is probably the return of Michael De Santa in "A Safehouse in the Hills." After 12 years away from the spotlight and being the only one of the three GTA V protagonists to miss out on the Grand Theft Auto Online fun, the fan-favorite yacht-loving career criminal, voiced once again by Ned Luke, made his triumphant comeback as a successful Vinewood film producer, and players showed up in droves.
