Will GTA 6 have an offline co-op? Here’s what we know

Grand Theft Auto 6 is gearing up to be one of, if not the most popular game of all time. Rockstar’s series has always had a winning streak, especially since the era of GTA 3. However, the hype and anticipation GTA 6 has is unmatched, as not even heavy hitters like Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC could match it.

While it’s already known that GTA 6 would have a massive single-player experience and world for players to enjoy, we want to take a look at something else. To be more specific, we want to answer the question of whether GTA 6 will have offline co-op, similar to what some previous games in the series have had.

So, if you’re like us and are itching for some good old couch co-op goodness, then keep reading because we likely have the answer.

What is offline co-op?

Naturally, before anything it’s important to clarify what we mean by the term “offline co-op.” Also called couch co-op, offline co-op basically means playing with a friend or loved one on the same device using different controls. The most popular examples of this genre would be games like the Gears of War series and the 2021 Game of the Year winner, It Takes Two.

It’s already known that GTA 6 already has various co-op and multiplayer elements thanks to GTA Online. However, that isn’t what we’re referring to here. Playing GTA Online with a friend requires each player to have their own device, whether it be a console or PC. Therefore, it can be fairly difficult to play in the same room, as the room would need to fit at least two monitors, PCs, or consoles.

While those who grew up in the early 2000s will likely remember the joy of couch co-op goodness, the feature has been neglected in recent years. In the era of online gaming, most developers prefer to force players to purchase multiple devices and copies of the game so they can play together. After all, it’s more convenient and it results in more profit for studios. That doesn’t mean gamers of today don’t want this feature to be explored more.

Which other Grand Theft Auto games have couch co-op?

GTA San Andreas was the first and last game in the series to have offline co-op. The world of San Andreas had various co-op symbols scattered across different regions. Interacting with one and connecting a second controller allowed players to play together.

Additionally, it was possible for both players to choose from a myriad of different characters. All the characters were already present in the game as other NPCs, so it was a treat to be able to play as our favorite characters.

However, players couldn’t explore the full map while multiplayer was enabled. The map was condensed to a sandbox section, ensuring both players fit on the screen and couldn’t go too far from each other. The reasoning for this was that by fitting both players on the screen, the game didn’t have to control divided destruction through split-scree, something that was extremely popular back then.

Thanks to this, no other game in the Grand Theft Auto series utilized the couch co-op mechanic. While other games also had co-op, including the PSP game GTA Vice City Stories, it was done so through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Every involved player required their individual device, and connecting two controllers did nothing.

Will Grand Theft Auto 6 have offline co-op?

Getting right into what we think, no, we don’t think GTA 6 will have couch co-op. Now, there are a couple of reasons we think this so we’ll dive into every reason separately to ensure players can digest everything easily.

The GTA games are massive in size and scale

The Grand Theft Auto games are huge, and players can cause mayhem through various means. As a matter of fact, destruction is a primary reason the GTA series is where it is today, and Rockstar knows that too. After all, why else would they have modes like Rampage, which required players to cause destruction?

Two players exploring the in-game at the same time would put too much load on the game. This can lead to performance issues and it’s unlikely Rockstar Games would want to generate a negative image of its crown jewel. Players saw something similar with Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, a game part of a series that’s known for its offline co-op experience. Since the graphical load of split-screen mode would have been so much, the developer opted to limit split-screen to one empty map only to ensure even players with subpar builds could play it.

Not everyone can afford powerful builds

This brings us to our second point. Not every gamer has a powerful PC. Grand Theft Auto 6 may be huge in scale, but it’s good for Rockstar to ensure the maximum number of players can play it. After all, GTA 5 is also a huge game but offers various optimization options to ensure those with low-end builds can play it too.

Having a taxing feature like couch co-op would make it hard for lower-end PC builds to handle the game. Even if Rockstar limited the feature to a specific sandbox area, the sheer description two players can cause on the screen at once could potentially cause FPS drops and crashing issues. Rockstar is known for wanting their mainline games to run perfectly, and adding a feature that could jeopardize that would be a weird decision.

Not to mention, it’s unlikely most fans even want an offline mode. What makes GTA a fun game is the fact that players can explore the whole map and do various activities. Being stuck in a certain area will make the game too boring and restrictive, something no one wants.

GTA Online is profitable. Why miss out on it?

Finally, the last and arguably most convincing reason GTA 6 likely won’t have couch co-op is the fact that GTA Online is so profitable. GTA Online has various microtransactions including Shark Cards and the many subscriptions the studio puts out. Therefore, Rockstar has a steady stream of money thanks to it, something offline games don’t have since once a player finishes it it’s a one-and-done thing.

Many players will likely purchase another console, PC, or copy of Grand Theft Auto 6 just to play its online mode. Adding a feature that gives players an incentive to play together using just one copy of the game would be a poor business decision. Remember Rockstar Games is a company first and foremost, which means earning profit is its highest priority.

The bottom line

All in all, will Grand Theft Auto 6 have an offline co-op mode? We don’t know since Rockstar hasn’t told us yet, but it’s highly unlikely. While the game could potentially have some co-op elements, it likely won’t be to the extent most players want.

After all, many games out there allow players to tackle complete game campaigns with their friends, so the expectations players have are very high. The Grand Theft Auto series hasn’t ever done anything like this in the past, and it’s unlikely GTA 6 could add a complete offline co-op campaign if it wanted to. Remember, just because GTA 6 has two protagonists doesn’t mean it’ll have offline multiplayer. After all, GTA 5 has three protagonists but still no offline multiplayer elements.