A former senior technical lead at Rockstar Games has cautioned that Grand Theft Auto VI may not achieve a consistent 60 frames per second on current-generation consoles when it launches. The remarks were made by John Ricchio, whose credits include work on both Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, during an appearance on the “Kiwi Talkz” podcast hosted by Reece Reilly.
Dim Prospects for a 60 FPS Performance Mode
Ricchio explained that the unprecedented scale and ambition of the new title make sustaining high frame rates a significant challenge on existing hardware. While speculation about a dedicated 60 FPS performance option has persisted for months, his insight suggests that achieving this without compromising the game’s visual presentation would be difficult. Historically, the studio has prioritized graphical fidelity and world density over raw frame rate when forced to make a technical trade-off.
Multiple unconfirmed reports and early retail listings had previously indicated that GTA VI could ship with both 30 FPS and 60 FPS modes for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar has not officially validated these details. The developer often releases major console projects locked at 30 frames per second at debut, occasionally introducing a higher frame rate option through a post-launch update.
CPU Demands Shape Technical Outlook
Ricchio’s assessment aligns with a technical analysis from Digital Foundry published earlier. Rather than citing graphics processing limitations, that report identified the central processing unit as the primary bottleneck. The densely simulated open world, its traffic systems, and complex physics calculations—especially at the high velocities possible across land, sea, and air—require exceptional CPU throughput. Even the PlayStation 5 Pro’s upgraded architecture may fall short of delivering 60 FPS, because its processor offers only a marginal uplift over the standard model’s CPU, while the most significant enhancements are concentrated in its graphics unit. Digital Foundry considers a 40 FPS mode a far more achievable target on the enhanced hardware.
A Modular Approach to Installation
In a separate development, refreshed listings on the Xbox Store have hinted that the single-player story and Grand Theft Auto Online could be offered as two distinct downloads. This structure would give players the flexibility to delete the campaign portion after transitioning to the online experience, potentially conserving valuable storage space. It has also prompted industry observers to question whether the online component might eventually be distributed or sold as a standalone product. Rockstar has yet to comment on either scenario.
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