Consoles Can’t Keep Up: Experts Say Grand Theft Auto VI Will Run at Only 30 FPS

Rockstar’s upcoming project will push even the PS5 Pro to its limits.

Digital Foundry experts believe Grand Theft Auto VI is unlikely to run at a consistent 60 frames per second on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Despite recent rumors, the game’s massive scale and heavy CPU demands make such performance improbable.

Digital Foundry specialist William Judd explains that the processor—not the graphics card—poses the primary hurdle. GTA VI features a more complex world simulation than current RPGs like Dragon’s Dogma 2 or Baldur’s Gate 3. Densely populated urban environments, intricate physics systems, and fast travel across land, sea, and air create a significant strain on console hardware.

These technical requirements force developers to cap frame rates at 30 fps to maintain simulation stability. Reaching a steady 60 fps remains a steep challenge.

Past releases from Rockstar Games support this outlook. Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 debuted with 30 fps limits, often dipping lower in demanding scenes. Analysts expect the studio to prioritize high-fidelity visuals over high frame rates for this release.