Grand Theft Auto VI, the behemoth of a title looming on the gaming horizon, continues to tantalize and tease. While the official release window remains firmly planted in 2025, a recent glimpse of gameplay provided a fleeting, yet impactful, look into the world Rockstar Games is meticulously crafting. This small window into the game, served as a reminder of the almost comical level of anticipation surrounding the project. It also reignited a persistent question: Will Grand Theft Auto VI ever grace the Nintendo Switch 2? And if so, when?
The release date for GTA VI on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S has been confirmed for 2025 but Rockstar’s website conspicuously omits any mention of a PC or Nintendo Switch 2 version. The silence fuels speculation, especially considering Rockstar’s historical pattern. PC versions of their tentpole releases, like Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, typically arrive a year or so after the console debut. While the reasons for this delay are multifaceted, reports suggest the porting process is more complex than many realize.
The question of a Switch 2 release becomes even more intriguing when considering Nintendo’s history with Rockstar. While the recently remastered version of Red Dead Redemption didn’t make its way to the Switch, the original Red Dead Redemption did appear on the platform. This indicates a willingness to collaborate, suggesting the possibility of a future GTA VI port isn’t entirely outside the realm of possibility.
Adding fuel to the fire is the anticipated success of the Nintendo Switch 2. Industry analysts predict it will be a monumental console release, potentially the biggest in years. This projected popularity creates a strong incentive for Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, to bring GTA VI to the platform. The game industry is expecting GTA VI to be a landmark release and there has been growing anticipation that publishers hope Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar will sell the game for $100, establishing a new, higher price tier.
One industry analyst noted Nintendo’s largely family-friendly platform might raise concerns about the ultra-violent content of the Grand Theft Auto series. However, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has addressed these concerns in recent earnings calls, hedging his bets but expressing interest in supporting the platform. Zelnick pointed to titles like Civilization VII on Switch 2 as evidence that Nintendo’s audience is expanding beyond younger players. "We’ve had—obviously—a long-standing relationship with Nintendo," Zelnick stated. "We’ve supported the platform when it made sense for the individual release." He had to assuage shareholders’ disappointment at the GTA VI delay and an announcement for the Switch 2 would do a lot to help.
The ultimate deciding factor will likely be the Nintendo Switch 2’s technical capabilities. Speculation puts the console’s performance somewhere between a PlayStation 4 and a PlayStation 4 Pro. While that might seem limiting, the ability to run Cyberpunk 2077 on the system, albeit at 1080p when docked, demonstrates its potential. CD Projekt Red even worked directly with Nintendo on the port, highlighting the level of collaboration possible. CD Projekt Red VP of business development Jan Rosner said "Nintendo’s audience is growing and broadening," which makes sense for Cyberpunk 2077 to be on Switch 2.
Cyberpunk 2077 will fit on a 64GB game card, though that’s not the norm. Many other large, third-party games will be loaded on game-key cards, which are essentially a download code for players to get the title on Nintendo’s eShop. The size of Grand Theft Auto VI presents another challenge. The game will likely be massive, potentially consuming a significant portion of the Switch 2’s internal storage, which is rumored to be 256GB.
Porting GTA VI to the Switch 2 isn’t just about raw power; it’s also about optimization and technological adaptation. Rockstar’s games run on the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE), and it’s unknown how demanding it might be on the Switch 2’s hardware.
The PlayStation 5 Pro is expected to utilize AMD-based PSSR upscaling technology, but the Switch 2 would likely rely on Nvidia’s upscaling solutions. Rockstar would be better off making GTA VI accessible with the Nvidia-made upscaling on the Switch 2.
Ultimately, the decision to bring Grand Theft Auto VI to the Nintendo Switch 2 hinges on a complex interplay of factors, including market demand, technical feasibility, and the evolving relationship between Rockstar and Nintendo. Despite the uncertainties, the potential for such a release remains a tantalizing prospect for gamers and industry observers alike. And as the clock ticks down to 2025, the question of whether we’ll be terrorizing Vice City on a handheld console remains open.
