Speculation about the multiplayer component of Rockstar Games' upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) has intensified following comments from a prominent industry figure, who indicates that the title's online mode may incorporate elements characteristic of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs).
Former Star Wars: The Old Republic producer Richard Vogel — whose extensive career includes pioneering MMORPGs such as Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, along with contributions to Doom (2016), New World, Halo Infinite, and Gotham Knights — shared his insights in a recent interview, as reported by Wccftech. Though Vogel has no direct involvement with the Grand Theft Auto series, he noted rumors circulating in the industry about GTA 6's planned features. "My instinct tells me that the next major MMORPG will likely come from Asia and/or Europe. If what I have been hearing about GTA 6's features and gameplay is true, it could evolve into an MMORPG, as many of its planned features are typically found in MMORPGs," Vogel stated.
These observations focus primarily on the game's anticipated online mode. GTA Online, the multiplayer counterpart to Grand Theft Auto 5, already introduced a persistent shared world with ongoing updates, player-owned properties, collaborative missions, and a player-driven economy — elements that shifted the franchise toward live-service gameplay and proved highly lucrative for Rockstar. Vogel's remarks suggest GTA 6 could expand this foundation significantly, potentially integrating deeper persistent worlds, expanded role-playing mechanics, and larger-scale social interactions reminiscent of established MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or The Elder Scrolls Online.
Supporting this direction is Rockstar's 2023 acquisition of Cfx.re, the team behind FiveM — a popular modification for Grand Theft Auto 5 that enabled dedicated servers, higher player counts, and robust role-playing servers. FiveM communities often simulated MMORPG-style experiences, with players adopting specific roles in a living, evolving environment, and at times surpassing official GTA Online player numbers on platforms like Steam.
While GTA 6 is expected to feature a standalone single-player story campaign set in the fictional state of Leonida (inspired by Florida) and centered on protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, the online component remains shrouded in secrecy. This opacity has fueled theories that Rockstar is aiming for a more ambitious, seamless multiplayer experience that blurs lines between traditional open-world action and MMORPG persistence.
GTA 6 is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, following delays from its original Fall 2025 window and a subsequent May 2026 target to ensure additional polish. A PC version is widely anticipated to arrive later, consistent with Rockstar's historical release pattern.
Rockstar Games has not yet revealed any official plans for GTA 6 Online, leaving open the possibility that its multiplayer mode could indeed evolve into an MMORPG-like experience, building on community demand and the franchise's proven multiplayer success.
