Grand Theft Auto 6 Can’t Repeat the Same Mistake Rockstar Made With GTA 5

Grand Theft Auto 6 is already poised to be the biggest video game launch of this generation, and potentially of all time. The shadow of the sixth mainline entry in the popular open world crime franchise loomed so large that some publishers were unwilling to reveal dates for their games to avoid releasing too close to Rockstar Games’ juggernaut. But while Grand Theft Auto 6 is a certified slam dunk based on the absurd popularity of GTA 5, there is one element from Grand Theft Auto 5’s long development timeline that Rockstar Games should approach differently this time around.

DLC had been a key part of Rockstar Games’ post-release plans for many of its major releases. Lost and the Damned, Ballad of Gay Tony, and Undead Nightmare are singular experiences that existed within the world of their respective games, but told stories that were unique and didn’t need to support a 50+ hour open world experience. With those add-ons in mind, fans were eager to see what Rockstar would do with Grand Theft Auto 5’s DLC, but unfortunately, no single-player expansions were ever released.

There were rumors that Grand Theft Auto 5 had single player DLC in the works at various points in its post-launch development, but they were eventually scrapped in favor of focusing on GTA Online. It’s easy to see why Rockstar favored the cash cow that is Grand Theft Auto Online – even now, the mode continues to receive regular support – but it was disappointing that single player fans never got the opportunity to jump back into Los Santos.

For Grand Theft Auto 6, Rockstar Games should tap back into that DLC pipeline. With the added development time between GTA 5 and now, the hope is that the studio can find a way to balance GTA Online and single player offerings so single player and multiplayer fans can have something to enjoy. There’s no scenario where GTA Online goes away so the only option is to balance both. Of course, if the studio has to choose between online and single player DLC, there’s little doubt which aspect would be sacrificed, but that would be a mistake.

Rockstar shouldn’t prioritize GTA Online over single-player offerings in GTA 6!

Rockstar Games’ team are masterful storytellers, capable of weaving intricate tales that impress, delight, and move. While most point to Grand Theft Auto 5 for its open world action, the story beats of Red Dead Redemption 2 are what are regularly discussed when it comes to the narrative strengths of the studio. Presuming that GTA 6 will put a premium on gameplay in the main campaign – although the dual protagonist approach with one female and one male main character is intriguing – then single player DLC offers the opportunity to stretch those storytelling muscles.

It’s true that Grand Theft Auto 6 doesn’t need to offer any one thing for the game to be successful. In fact, there’s a strong possibility that this will be the biggest entertainment launch regardless of pre-release reviews, perception of trailers, or controversies. Even rumors that the game might be $100 likely won’t deter a lot of people from picking up the title, because the value proposition inherent to Grand Theft Auto’s open world is a lot more justifiable than a lot of other premium-priced games.

Still, for Grand Theft Auto 6 to be impactful to the fans of the series that have been around since the early days (or maybe just when Grand Theft Auto 3 flipped the formula), hopefully, Rockstar Games doesn’t repeat the mistake of GTA 5 and skip single player DLC.

Grand Theft Auto releases May 26, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.