Grand Theft Auto 5, GTA Online Player Engagement is Up

Grand Theft Auto 5 is proving just how much staying power it still has after over a decade, as player engagement numbers are up significantly from just last year. As publisher Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games prepares for the launch of its highly-anticipated sequel, Grand Theft Auto 5 is reporting a double-digits increase in player engagement.

Despite its age, Rockstar’s flagship franchise entry still boasts millions of players and consistent updates even leading up to the release of GTA 6. This may not come as a surprise to many fans given the series’ iconic status overall and the game’s massive sales numbers, but the growth is fairly robust nonetheless.

These new engagement numbers come directly from Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, who spoke about the game in an earnings call reported on at MP1st stating that player numbers are up by 35% in the single-player mode and 23% in GTA Online. In the call, Zelnick also mentioned how impressed he was with GTA 5‘s continued performance and that he is proud that the title has since reached over 200 million units sold, a massive number even for a AAA studio.

How is GTA 5 Still Going So Strong?

Much of the growth is likely due in part to the recent reveal of GTA 6, which received its first official trailer last year and is set to release in fall 2025 and, given the previous game’s performance, is likely to sell just as well, if not better. Little is known about the game’s actual content or what its online mode may look like, though there is little doubt among fans that it will have a multiplayer mode just like the current GTA Online.

GTA 5 also received a full-on current-gen update recently as well, which revamped the game’s visuals and performance for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S and abandoned the older generation entirely. Players who upgrade to the current-gen version can no longer play with friends on the old one and keep the same progress, though the upgrade is free for anyone with a current-gen console or PC.

The title is also thriving in spite of some controversy from fans regarding the GTA+ subscription service, which effectively doubles down on the game’s live service aspects by giving players exclusive benefits for a monthly fee. This service not only provides free vehicles and other in-game boosts, but also hands out classic Rockstar Games titles to subscribers on occasion, such as L.A. Noire.

Grand Theft Auto 5

One of the most popular open-world titles of the 2010s, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 5 is an ambitious crime game featuring three protagonists. It is an action-adventure title played in both third and first-person perspectives. As the seventh main entry into the Grand Theft Auto series, it is the most popular of the titles, and one of the most popular games of all time.

The single-player campaign is set in the fictional state of San Andreas, where the protagonists, including a retired bank robber, a gangster, and a drug dealer, attempt heists.