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.
The update introduced three purchasable luxury mansions, marking the first time in GTA Online history that players could own proper estates in Vinewood Hills. More importantly, the secret "Home Sweet Home" mission featuring Michael pays $500,000 on first completion and canonically confirms GTA V's "Deathwish" ending. For longtime Grand Theft Auto fans, this narrative bridge between story mode and online is exactly the kind of fan service that keeps them coming back.
Beyond Michael's return, "A Safehouse in the Hills" packed genuine substance. The new mansions feature 20-car garages, private helipads with complimentary helicopters, AI assistants with three selectable personalities, and adoptable dogs and cats as companion pets. The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. Following similar record-breaking player counts seen during the Halloween update, the mansions update has proven that GTA Online's audience remains hungry for substantial new content.
GTA V's December performance is a continuation of consistent success for a game that is still outselling modern releases. The franchise overall has reached 450 million copies sold, cementing its place as one of gaming's most successful properties ever created, with Grand Theft Auto VI expected to take the series into the half-billion mark in record time.
As GTA 6 inches closer to its 2025 release window, expect this pattern to continue. Los Santos isn't going anywhere, and neither are its millions of dedicated players.
