8 Reasons GTA VI Will Outdo RDR2
In about seven months, Rockstar Games will finally release the long-awaited **Grand Theft Auto VI** in May 2026, after being pushed back from its initial 2025 release window. For most of the 21st century, Rockstar Games has proven itself to launch some of gaming’s most celebrated and popular titles—not just those connected to the Grand Theft Auto series, but also games like *Max Payne*, *L.A. Noire*, *Bully*, and *Red Dead Redemption*.
Rockstar’s previous release, 2018’s *Red Dead Redemption 2*, launched to widespread success. This late 19th-century set game became the second highest-grossing entertainment launch after *Grand Theft Auto V*, garnering over $725 million in its first three days and selling over 77 million copies by 2025. Despite its critical and financial acclaim, it’s highly likely that GTA VI will outshine the cowboy game in both profitability and long-term popularity for a myriad of reasons.
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### GTA V’s Sales History: Lightning is Likely to Strike Twice
The GTA series has always been popular yet controversial due to its themes of modern criminal fantasy—stealing cars, robbing banks and stores, attacking police, and more. Despite the controversies, GTA has proven time and again to be one of the most profitable gaming franchises ever. *Grand Theft Auto V* alone has sold over 215 million copies and reportedly generated over $9 billion in revenue by 2025.
Even though GTA V is now 12 years old, it continues to top monthly and annual sales charts and has remained one of the most played games across three console generations. With GTA VI already highly anticipated—thanks in large part to the monumental success of GTA V—it’s expected to break record sales at launch and throughout its lifetime.
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### GTA VI’s Ever-Expanding Hype: One of the Most Anticipated Games Ever
The excitement surrounding GTA V’s release was immense after *Grand Theft Auto IV*. GTA V’s official announcement in late 2011 sparked widespread anticipation, leading to over 11 million copies sold within its first 24 hours.
*Red Dead Redemption 2* garnered similar hype upon its announcement in late 2016. However, Rockstar’s development pace slowed compared to earlier decades. Despite this, GTA VI arguably has even more hype. Its first trailer has amassed nearly 270 million views, compared to about 28 million for RDR2’s first trailer.
Other game publishers are steering clear of releasing games near GTA VI’s launch, fearing that this modern open-world blockbuster will eclipse their titles in recognition and sales. Industry experts expect GTA VI to be one of the highest-selling games of the ninth console generation.
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### Grand Theft Auto Online 2.0: Expanded Multiplayer Potential
*Red Dead Redemption 2* is widely regarded as one of the best games of the eighth console generation thanks to its stunning visuals, compelling story of Arthur Morgan, and immersive 19th-century gameplay. However, its multiplayer component, Red Dead Online, received limited support and updates, officially ending major content releases in 2022.
In contrast, GTA V’s Grand Theft Auto Online has thrived for over a decade, enjoying a large player base and regular content expansions. This disparity partly stems from RDR2’s historical setting, which limited the scope for customization, activities, vehicles, and weapons compared to GTA Online.
Rockstar is already planning to expand GTA VI’s online component, likely surpassing GTA V’s iteration with even more features and content.
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### Migrating GTA V Communities: Playerbase Transition
Despite being 12 years old, GTA V maintains a healthy and thriving online community. As of this year, it averages about 80,000 daily players on Steam. By comparison, Red Dead Online has only about 1,700 daily players on the same platform.
This revenue and playerbase contrast isn’t surprising given GTA Online’s extensive customization options and creativity—from building racetracks to recreating entire plays like *Hamlet*. While some players may hesitate to leave GTA Online, many veterans and new fans are likely to migrate to GTA VI’s online world, which promises to offer both familiar modes and exciting new gameplay experiences.
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### GTA VI’s Sandbox Appeal: The Innate Fun of GTA
While *Red Dead Redemption* is a fantastic series with a serious tone and narrative focus, GTA games are often beloved for their sandbox freedom. Players can explore single-player and multiplayer worlds, cause chaos, and have a blast without the need to follow the story closely.
In GTA, players can steal cars, hijack planes, blow up streets, take on the police at five-star wanted levels, attack wildlife, and more. *RDR2* offers freedom too but with fewer ways to cause chaos.
GTA VI is shaping up to be a vibrant, fun-filled sandbox set across Vice City, the Leonida Keys, and Mount Kalaga National Park, promising endless possibilities for players.
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### GTA VI’s Expansive Side Activities: Endless Fun in Leonida
Red Dead Redemption 2 offers rich side activities like fishing, horse racing, hunting, gambling, and shooting contests. Yet many of its side activities revolve mainly around violence—robbing, bounty hunting, and tracking targets.
GTA VI appears to offer a much wider variety of side activities. Trailers and official information suggest players can enjoy dirt bike riding, hunting, kayaking, scuba diving, watching cabaret shows, riding carnival attractions, making music, and more.
This diverse range of activities could attract a wider audience to GTA VI and encourage players to enjoy the game far longer.
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### Connections, Cameos, and References Across Rockstar Games
*Red Dead Redemption 2* serves as a prequel to the original RDR, set 12 years prior and allowing appearances mostly limited to characters from the first game. References to GTA were mainly Easter eggs.
GTA VI might feature more extensive connections not only to the Red Dead series but also to other Rockstar games like *L.A. Noire*, *Bully*, and *Manhunt*.
For example, a grown-up Jimmy Hopkins from *Bully* could appear as a side character in GTA VI, while returning GTA protagonists like Trevor, Michael, Franklin, Lester, or Lamar may make cameo appearances. There’s even the possibility that Arthur Morgan could become an ancestor character in GTA VI’s online mode, similar to how John Marston was integrated in GTA V.
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### GTA VI’s Relatable Setting and Characters: The Story of Jason, Lucia, and Leonida
While *Red Dead Redemption 2* is arguably the best cowboy game ever made—appealing to history enthusiasts and fans of the Wild West—not everyone wants to be a cowboy or appreciates historical settings.
For many players, the appeal of GTA lies in its modern city-focused setting and more relatable characters. GTA offers the opportunity to experience life today—or an exaggerated, chaotic version of it—allowing players to live out fantasies they can’t in everyday life.
This modern setting and relatable storytelling are significant reasons why the GTA series has remained so popular through the years.
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**In summary,** with its massive existing player base, expanded multiplayer ambitions, diverse activities, deep Rockstar universe connections, and relatable, modern settings, GTA VI is well-positioned to surpass even Rockstar’s hugely successful past hits. The countdown to May 2026 can’t come soon enough for fans worldwide.
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