Gaming · Tool Face-Off

GTA VI vs GTA V Online

Quick answer

GTA VI is the hyped next-gen blockbuster with a bigger world and modern mechanics, but GTA V Online is a proven, content-packed live-service beast that still pulls millions of players daily. Choose based on whether you want the future or the grind.

Our pick

GTA VI

Rockstar's magnum opus — bigger, bolder, and probably worth the wait

4.4★

GTA V Online

11 years old and still stealing cars — and your free time

3.8★

Release Status

Announced 2025 (PS5/XSX)

Live since 2013

Platform

PS5, Xbox Series X/S (PC later)

PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC

Base Price

~$70 (estimated)

Free with PS Plus / ~$10 standalone

Map Size

Larger than any prior GTA

Los Santos + Blaine County

Protagonist(s)

Dual leads: Lucia + male co-lead

Custom online character only

Single-Player Campaign

Yes — full narrative campaign

No (GTA V story is separate)

Active Player Count

Unknown (not released)

Millions daily across platforms

Microtransactions

Expected (Shark Cards likely return)

Yes — Shark Cards ($5–$100)

Content Updates

TBD post-launch

Regular Rockstar updates since 2013

Setting

Vice City-inspired, modern Florida

Los Santos (LA-inspired), 2013 era

AI & NPC Behavior

Next-gen reactive NPCs

Dated NPC behavior

Griefer Problem

Unknown — fingers crossed

Notorious — bring a bodyguard

GTA VI

Value for Money★★★★☆

Open World Depth★★★★★

Graphics & Visuals★★★★★

Story & Characters★★★★★

Multiplayer & Social★★★★☆

Performance & Polish★★★★½

Content Volume at Launch★★★½☆

GTA V Online

Value for Money★★★½☆

Open World Depth★★★½☆

Graphics & Visuals★★★☆☆

Story & Characters★★½☆☆

Multiplayer & Social★★★★★

Performance & Polish★★★☆☆

Content Volume at Launch★★★★★

Worth knowing

GTA V Online has generated over $8 billion in revenue since 2013 — mostly from Shark Cards.
GTA VI's trailer broke YouTube records with 90 million views in 24 hours at reveal.
GTA V Online still peaks at over 150,000 concurrent players on Steam alone, over a decade in.
GTA VI features the first playable female protagonist in mainline GTA history.
Rockstar delayed GTA VI to polish it further — a rare and appreciated move in modern gaming.

GTA V was originally released when Obama was president, One Direction was still a band, and your current phone didn't exist — yet it still outsells most new games every month.

If you want

You want a fresh next-gen story with jaw-dropping visuals

GTA VI is built from the ground up for modern hardware with a rich narrative and a massive new world to explore.

→ Pick GTA VI

If you want

You want to play RIGHT NOW with friends

GTA V Online has 11 years of content, an active community, and is practically free — hard to beat for instant multiplayer fun.

→ Pick GTA V Online

If you want

You hate paying for in-game currency

GTA V Online's economy is grindy but known — GTA VI's monetization is an unknown wildcard that could be worse.

→ Pick GTA V Online