Does GTA 5 Support Crossplay with Console & PC in 2024?

By Abdullah AminUpdated on July 22, 2024

Abdullah Amin is a certified Google Data Analyst.

GTA 5 does not support crossplay in 2024, meaning players on different platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, and PC cannot play together.
Technical complexities and platform differences, such as modding on PC and server structures, hinder the implementation of crossplay.
Alternatives with crossplay include Call of Duty: Warzone, Destiny 2, Minecraft Bedrock Edition, Chivalry 2, and Wild Hearts.

Gaming has evolved, with cross-platform play allowing friends to team up regardless of device. Fans of GTA 5 and GTA Online are eager to know if they can enjoy the game with buddies across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC in 2024. Crossplay has been a hot topic, sparking excitement about teaming up with friends on different platforms.

This article explores GTA 5’s cross-platform capabilities and potential future developments. But first, a brief overview for those unfamiliar with this iconic game.

GTA 5: A Brief History

Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the seventh main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, following Grand Theft Auto IV.

Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) | Rockstar Games

Upon its release, GTA 5 received critical acclaim for its storytelling, open-world design, graphics, and overall gameplay. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential video games of all time. The game has been praised for its attention to detail, cinematic presentation, and the depth of its characters and narrative.

GTA 5 has been a commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling video games of all time, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.

What Platforms is GTA 5 Available On?

GTA 5 has been released on multiple platforms since its initial launch in 2013. The game is currently available on the following platforms:

PlayStation 4 (PS4): GTA 5 was released for the PS4 in 2014, offering enhanced graphics and performance compared to the previous generation PlayStation 3 (PS3) version.
Xbox One: Similar to the PS4 version, GTA 5 was also released for the Xbox One in 2014, providing improved visuals and gameplay over the Xbox 360 edition.
Microsoft Windows (PC): The PC version of GTA 5 was launched in 2015, allowing players to experience the game with enhanced graphics, higher framerates, and support for mods.
PlayStation 5 (PS5): In 2022, Rockstar Games released an “Expanded and Enhanced” version of GTA 5 for the PlayStation 5, featuring further visual and performance improvements.
Xbox Series X|S: Alongside the PS5 version, Rockstar also launched the “Expanded and Enhanced” edition of GTA 5 for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles in 2022.

It’s important to note that while the game is available on these platforms, the cross-platform play functionality is limited. Now let’s dive deep into the current state of crossplay in GTA!

Does GTA 5 Support Crossplay?

Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) and its online counterpart, GTA Online, are popular games that have been available on multiple platforms since their release. However, despite the widespread availability and the increasing trend of cross-platform play in modern gaming, GTA 5 does not support crossplay between different platforms.

1. Lack of Crossplay in GTA 5

The primary reason for the absence of crossplay in GTA 5 is the complexity involved in balancing the game for different platforms. GTA 5 has been released on various consoles, including the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, each with its own unique features and settings.

Implementing crossplay would require substantial modifications to ensure a fair and balanced gameplay experience across all platforms. This includes considerations such as different graphics settings, frame rates, and controller configurations, which can significantly impact the game’s balance and fairness.

Other than that, the presence of mods in the PC version of GTA Online complicates the implementation of crossplay. Mods can enhance the game experience but also create an imbalance when playing with players on other platforms that do not have access to these mods. This would necessitate the creation of separate servers for modded and vanilla players, which could be a significant logistical challenge for Rockstar Games.

2. Backward Compatibility and Cross-Platform Play

While crossplay is not available, there are some platform-specific interactions allowed:

PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5: Players using these consoles can play together if the PS5 users run the backward-compatible version of GTA 5. This means PS5 users can play with PS4 users, but only if they are using the PS4 version of the game.
Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S: Similarly, Xbox players can play together across these two generations if the Series X/S users play the backward-compatible version of the game.

3. Cross-Progression in GTA Online

Despite the lack of crossplay, GTA Online does offer cross-progression through the Rockstar Games Social Club. This feature allows players to transfer their character data, inventory, and progress between different platforms, such as from PlayStation to PC. However, this transfer process can only be done once per account and has been subject to exploitation, which led to limitations being placed on this feature.

4. Business Considerations

From a business perspective, Rockstar Games may not see the need to invest time and resources into implementing crossplay. GTA 5 and GTA Online have been successful without crossplay, and the games continue to receive regular updates and new content. The lack of crossplay does not appear to have significantly impacted the games’ popularity. Therefore, it may not be financially viable for Rockstar to invest in crossplay, especially given the advanced stage of the game’s development cycle.

5. Future Prospects

There is currently no information available on the potential introduction of crossplay in GTA 5 or GTA Online. The likelihood of crossplay being added in the foreseeable future seems slim. Rockstar Games has not provided any indication that crossplay will be incorporated, and the focus is likely to be on the development of GTA 6, which is expected to be released in 2025.

Given the advanced stage of GTA 5’s development and its nearly decade-old status, it is unlikely that crossplay will be added to the game.

What Are the Main Challenges in Enabling Crossplay in GTA 5?

The main challenges in enabling crossplay in GTA 5 are:

1. Platform Differences

The differences between the PC and console versions of GTA 5 are significant, making it difficult to implement fair and balanced crossplay.
The PC version has issues with hacking and modding that could negatively impact the console versions if crossplay was enabled.

2. Technical Complexity

Implementing crossplay functionality in GTA 5 would require substantial modifications to the game’s underlying code, as it was not designed for crossplay from the start.
Rockstar Games would need to invest significant time and resources to overcome the technical hurdles of enabling crossplay across different platforms.

3. Separate Server Structures

GTA Online operates on a peer-to-peer network, with each platform having its own designated server.
This makes it technically challenging to allow players from different platforms to seamlessly play together, as the game’s infrastructure was not built with crossplay in mind.

4. Timing and Priorities

GTA 5 is now nearly a decade old, and Rockstar’s focus is likely on developing the next installment in the franchise, GTA 6.
Implementing crossplay at this stage of GTA 5’s lifecycle may not be a high priority for the developer, especially given the technical challenges involved.

The main barriers to crossplay in GTA 5 are the significant differences between platforms, the technical complexity of implementing such a feature, the game’s existing server structure, and Rockstar’s priorities shifting towards the development of the next Grand Theft Auto title.

Given the lack of crossplay in GTA 5, players looking for a similar open-world, action-packed experience with robust cross-platform capabilities may want to consider the following alternatives.

Alternatives to GTA 5 with Cross Platform Availability

If you’re looking for alternatives to GTA 5 that support crossplay and offer a similar open-world, action-packed experience, here are five excellent options:

1. Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone is a battle royale game that has taken the gaming world by storm. It offers a vast open world, engaging gameplay, and robust crossplay support. Players can join forces with friends across different platforms to take on the challenges of the game’s battle royale mode.

Warzone’s shooting mechanics are satisfying, and its map is rewarding to explore, making it a great alternative to GTA 5 for those who enjoy competitive multiplayer experiences.

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

2. Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is a first-person shooter that offers a rich, evolving game world. It features a strong community and regular updates, ensuring that the game remains fresh and engaging. Players can level up and raid with friends across different platforms, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy cooperative multiplayer experiences.

Destiny 2’s constant updates and new content keep the game exciting, making it a strong alternative to GTA 5 for those who enjoy exploring and leveling up in a shared world.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PC

3. Minecraft Bedrock Edition

Minecraft is a sandbox survival game that offers endless possibilities for creativity and exploration. The Bedrock Edition supports crossplay, allowing players to build and explore together across different platforms. Minecraft’s vast open world and robust building mechanics make it an excellent alternative to GTA 5 for those who enjoy crafting and exploring in a shared environment.

Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mobile Devices

4. Chivalry 2

Chivalry 2 is a medieval combat game that focuses on multiplayer battles. It offers a unique blend of hack-and-slash action and strategic gameplay. Players can engage in intense multiplayer battles with friends across different platforms, making it a great alternative to GTA 5 for those who enjoy competitive multiplayer experiences with a historical twist.

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

5. Wild Hearts

Wild Hearts is a new open-world action game that combines elements of hunting and combat. It offers a vast, dynamic world to explore and a robust multiplayer mode that supports crossplay. Players can team up with friends across different platforms to take on the challenges of the game’s open world, making it a great alternative to GTA 5 for those who enjoy exploring and engaging in combat with friends.

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

These alternatives offer a mix of open-world exploration, competitive multiplayer, and cooperative gameplay, making them excellent choices for those looking to enjoy crossplay experiences similar to GTA 5.

Will GTA 6 Have Crossplay?

While Rockstar Games has not officially confirmed whether Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) will support crossplay, the lack of crossplay in previous GTA games suggests that it is unlikely to be a feature in the upcoming title as Rockstar Games has been reserved in implementing crossplay in their online services.

However, the gaming community continues to speculate and request a crossplay feature in GTA 6, as many modern games now support the functionality. The reduced hardware parity between modern consoles and PCs has made crossplay more feasible, with titles like Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and Fortnite leading the charge.

While crossplay has become a standard feature in many modern games, the likelihood of GTA 6 supporting the functionality remains uncertain. Let’s wait and watch what Rockstar has in store for GTA fans.

Wrapping Up

Despite the lack of crossplay, GTA 5 and GTA Online continue to be popular games with a massive community. The game’s open-world design and engaging multiplayer modes have kept players entertained for years, and the addition of new content and updates ensures that the game remains fresh and exciting.

For those looking for alternatives that do support crossplay, there are several excellent options available. Games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Destiny 2, Minecraft Bedrock Edition, and Chivalry 2 offer robust crossplay capabilities, allowing players to team up with friends across different platforms.

FAQs

How about crossplay between different PC launchers?

Yes, PC players can play GTA Online together regardless of which launcher they are using, such as Steam, Epic Games Store, or the Rockstar Games Launcher.

Can I transfer my GTA Online character between console and PC?

No, there is no way to transfer your GTA Online character progress between console and PC versions of the game. Your character progress is locked to the platform you originally created it on.

Does the new “Expanded and Enhanced” version of GTA 5 support crossplay?

No, the recently released “Expanded and Enhanced” version of GTA 5 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S does not include any crossplay functionality.

Will Rockstar add crossplay to GTA 5 in the future?

It is highly unlikely that Rockstar will add crossplay to GTA 5 at this stage, as the game is nearly a decade old and the developer’s focus is likely on the development of GTA 6.

Will GTA 6 have crossplay?

While there is no official confirmation, the inclusion of crossplay in GTA 6 seems more likely, as the feature has become increasingly common in modern multiplayer games. However, Rockstar has not made any announcements regarding crossplay for the upcoming title.

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