Rockstar confirms fans' worst fears with worrying GTA 6 performance update

GTA 6 could be missing a key feature that fans have been desperate for, as new information from one of the game's lead developers has indicated that it might not have a performance mode targeting 60 frames per second at launch.

You don't have to be an expert to presume that GTA 6 will be performance intensive, as it's massive open world and industry-leading graphics will likely push the current generation of PlayStation and Xbox consoles to their limit — yet many fans still held out hope that Rockstar would manage to squeeze a higher framerate option in somehow.

Unfortunately that doesn't appear to be the case, as per Kotaku, as a conversation between Rockstar's Head of Development, Rob Nelson, and YouTuber Davy Jones – who was one of the few lucky influencers to preview the game last month – has given gamers confirmation of their worst fears.

GTA 6 boss confirms that consoles will run at 30 fps

According to Nelson, development of the game on current consoles has been exclusively at 30 frames per second, noting in addition that he doesn't have any information to provide in terms of the resolution and any other graphical options like ray tracing beyond this.

This shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise considering both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 both launched at 30 fps – with the latter never receiving a performance upgrade on consoles despite the launch of the PS5 – but many fans are likely left disappointed by the news regardless.

Rockstar's Head of Development has seemingly confirmed that the game will be capped to 30 fps at launch (Rockstar Games)

It was clear from the recent Extended Look that 30 fps was the target too, as all of the gameplay shown in the trailer was capped at 30 fps, likely to ensure stability in what is undeniably an incredibly demanding game.

One thing that remains still up in the air, however, is whether the PS5 Pro will have any advantages over the base version — especially with the option to employ upscaling technology like PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR).

The Extended Look explicitly stated that gameplay was captured on a PS5 and not a PS5 Pro, and Nelson did not mention the more powerful console either way, leaving people wondering whether they should trade-in their current consoles for an upgrade or not.

Will 60 fps be an option in the future?

What hasn't been completely ruled out though is the option for a 60 fps patch at some point in the future, either when Rockstar is able to work its magic on current consoles, or through an upgrade when the next generation launches.

GTA 6 could receive a performance upgrade in the future, either with a new console or with additional optimization (Rockstar Games)

Nelson specifically stated that he needed to consult the game's technical team to determine whether this would be possible either at launch or in the future, and the trajectory of GTA 5 since it first launched on PS3 and Xbox 360 is certainly something that Rockstar could mirror.

Alternatively, anyone with a powerful enough machine will be able to achieve framerates of 60 and beyond when the game inevitably launches on PC in the near future, although the amount of money needed to obtain the necessary components is likely to turn some people off, especially in the midst of a memory shortage crisis.