Will Grand Theft Auto 6 come out for the Nintendo Switch?

2025 is slated to be one of the biggest years for big games, from the much-awaited Avowed to Borderlands 4. The most anticipated release has to be Grand Theft Auto 6, which will mark the next entry in one of the most successful series of all time. However, fans have some questions regarding the game, especially since Rockstar Games hasn’t given fans much to work with.

One of the most common questions may have is whether Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch on the Nintendo Switch. After all, the Switch is one of the most successful consoles, so it only makes sense to capitalize on the huge player base by releasing GTA 6 on it, right? Well, the answer may not be what you’re looking for.

Here’s everything we know and can safely assume about Grand Theft Auto 6’s release on the Nintendo Switch.

Will Grand Theft Auto 6 get a day-one Switch release?

Unfortunately, it’s all but confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will not come to the Nintendo Switch, at least at launch. There are a couple of reasons this may be, and we’re here to break them all down one at a time.

The Nintendo Switch just isn’t that powerful

Arguably the biggest reason Grand Theft Auto 6 likely won’t make it to the Nintendo Switch is how weak the platform’s hardware specifications are. The Nintendo Switch launched around the generation of the PS4 and Xbox One and its specs also reflect that. From Black Myth: Wukong to Elden Ring, many of the biggest AAA game releases have skipped the Nintendo Switch entirely thanks to its lack of specification strength.

Now, this doesn’t mean the Switch is a bad platform. Far from it, as it’s one of the most successful in terms of sales and convenience. However, when it comes to a massive game like Grand Theft Auto 6, Switch users probably shouldn’t hold their breath.

Those who want a better example need not look any further than Grand Theft Auto 5. GTA 5 has sold more than most games but it still never got a Nintendo Switch release. If Rockstar can pull these numbers without releasing the game on the Switch once then we see no reason it can’t do the same thing twice.

The Nintendo Switch usually opts to focus on first-party exclusives like The Legend of Zelda and Mario. What’s more, the company ensures these exclusives are always excellent. However, it can’t be ignored that even some first-party games that were specifically made for the Nintendo Switch like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet struggle to perform well on it.

Blood, gore, and other content is forbidden

The Grand Theft Auto series is known for incorporating elements that most developers would be hard-pressed to even think about. From robbery to taking out random pedestrians and going to adult clubs, the game gives players the freedom to lead a life of crime the real world doesn’t let them. However, that wouldn’t slide on the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo, as a company, has built a reputation for being family-friendly. The company tends to either reject games with themes that go against that reputation or ensure the game is extremely censored to the point some may not even recognize it anymore. While many gaming developers would belt under the Japanese company’s pressure, Rockstar isn’t like that.

As a matter of fact, Rockstar Games has found itself in multiple legal cases for its adult and violent themes but continues to stay on the same path. Because of this, we highly doubt GTA 6 would be any different. With that being said, this isn’t a hard reason GTA 6 may not come out on the Nintendo Switch.

Rockstar’s games have come to Nintendo’s consoles before, as seen with violent games like Bully and the Grand Theft Auto Definitive Trilogy. Therefore, GTA 6 could potentially quality for a release on Nintendo’s home console.

Grand Theft Auto Online is the future

Grand Theft Auto 5 may be extremely successful in its own right, but Grand Theft Auto Online is largely the biggest reason Rockstar continues support for the game. From new updates to new heists, the game continues to give the studio a steady stream of income, which is why we highly doubt Rockstar would want to let go of it.

Therefore, it’s very likely that Grand Theft Auto 6 would also have a heavy emphasis on GTA Online. The problem with this is that the Nintendo Switch’s online capabilities fall short when compared to the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms. While players still play Nintendo Switch games online, no game pushes the limits of the online gaming infrastructure like GTA Online.

Not to mention, there’s also the cost of porting Grand Theft Auto 6 to weaker hardware like the Nintendo Switch. While some may argue that the company would already be doing something like that for the Xbox Series S, it’s important to note that the Series S is significantly stronger than the Nintendo Switch and will still likely pose problems. After all, the Series S caused issues with games like Baldur’s Gate 3, which likely don’t come close to the level of finesse and graphical fidelity GTA 6 will have.

Will GTA 6 come out on the Nintendo Switch 2?

While a Nintendo Switch release is highly unlikely, some may wonder whether Grand Theft Auto 6 could come out on the Nintendo Switch 2. After all, the Switch 2 hasn’t been announced yet, which means it’s very likely that it’ll be the newest console by the time GTA 6 comes out. However, the question of whether GTA 6 will come out on the Nintendo Switch is unanswerable due to the lack of details we have.

For starters, there’s no confirmation of when the Nintendo Switch 2 will come out. While reports say it should come out in the first half of 2025, that isn’t set in stone and may be changed due to unforeseen delays. Additionally, how strong will the Nintendo Switch 2 be? While the Switch was released around the same time as the PS4 and Xbox One, it’s still significantly weaker than the two consoles. Therefore, many assume the Switch 2 will follow the same trend and be weaker than the PS5 and Xbox Series S/X.

All in all, it’s hard to safely determine whether GTA 6 will get a Nintendo Switch 2 port down the line. With Rockstar releasing more games on Nintendo’s platforms like the GTA Trilogy and Red Dead Redemption’s remastered port, there’s no telling whether GTA 6 will eventually come to a Nintendo platform.