Rockstar’s official support for GTA 5 roleplay is making some think GTA 6 Online isn’t coming anytime soon
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
Rockstar Games has officially endorsed the Grand Theft Auto 5 roleplay scene for the first time, partnering with the community-run "nopixel" server to launch "nopixel V" — a new version of the format built directly into Rockstar's own game launcher rather than run independently by modders. GTA roleplay has drawn huge Twitch audiences for years through streamer-led storylines, so Rockstar's formal backing marks a significant legitimisation of the format. The announcement has also fuelled fan speculation, with some interpreting continued investment in GTA 5's ecosystem as a sign that a full online mode for the upcoming GTA 6 remains some way off, since Rockstar has yet to say anything about GTA 6's online component.
Nopixel V launches on 8 September, with Twitch Drops running until 30 September offering players up to $1.5 million in GTA Online in-game currency plus a Burger Shot tracksuit cosmetic. Rockstar has also teased the return of "familiar faces" reprising fan-favourite characters alongside new storylines. By contrast, GTA Online launched just two weeks after GTA 5 itself, and observers note that pattern looks unlikely to repeat with GTA 6, which is not expected to appear on PC at launch either, further delaying any online rollout.
- Rockstar officially backs GTA 5 roleplay with new "nopixel V" launcher integration
- Some fans read this as a sign GTA 6 Online is far off
- Nopixel V launches 8 September with $1.5m in Twitch Drops rewards
New here? Start with this
Rockstar Games made its name with the Grand Theft Auto series, and GTA 5, released in 2013, remains hugely popular partly thanks to "roleplay" servers, where players use modified versions of the game to act out original characters and storylines rather than just following the built-in missions. These servers are run by fan communities, not Rockstar itself, and have become a major draw on the streaming platform Twitch, with "nopixel" being one of the best known. Rockstar has now moved to officially back this scene for the first time, rather than leaving it entirely to independent modders.
The wider context is the anticipation around GTA 6, the next mainline instalment in the series, which Rockstar has confirmed is coming but has given few details about, particularly regarding any online multiplayer element. GTA 5's own online mode, GTA Online, has proved extremely lucrative for Rockstar for over a decade, so how the company handles the transition between the two games is being watched closely by fans and industry observers alike.
This matters because Rockstar's decisions about GTA 5's ongoing support can be read as signals about its plans and timeline for GTA 6, a game with an enormous and impatient fanbase. Any sign that Rockstar is continuing to invest heavily in the older game's community features has prompted speculation about what that might mean for when, and in what form, GTA 6's online offering will eventually arrive.
More coverage