GTA VI must run at 30fps on consoles, says Digital Foundry

Even with scheduled release for May 26, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the performance of Grand Theft Auto VI is already generating relevant technical discussions. According to a recent analysis by Digital Foundry, it is unlikely that the game will achieve 60fps on consoles, especially considering the visual features employed by Rockstar Games.

The central point of the analysis lies in the use of Ray Tracing Global Illumination (RTGI) and the level of detail in the open world presented in the trailers. Rockstar confirmed that the latest trailer was captured in real time on PS5, and although it does not reveal gameplay, the visuals caught attention for their complexity and graphic fidelity.

According to the channel analysts:

“I would love to be wrong too, but there are some things they can't cut. [...] You can't get rid of Global Illumination by Ray Tracing. It's inherent to how the game works. Even getting rid of RT reflections could make the scenes look a bit different if the game was artistically designed around it. And they're all over the trailer.”

The channel highlights that the continued use of RTGI combined with the size of the world and the level of visible interactivity makes achieving 60 frames per second extremely challenging on current consoles. They point out that, in the trailer, some scenes already seem to operate close to 1080p native resolution, which may indicate the use of techniques like upscaling with FSR1 to maintain visual quality.

“We are already analyzing in terms of the resolution of these cinematics. We know it's a resolution higher than 1080p, but it's not much higher than 1080p in some aspects. And then you have to talk about reducing that to reach 60 fps. What kind of resolution would we be running with an upscale of FSR1? Do you even want that level of resolution? [...] Everything indicates that this is a 30 fps game, maybe with a 40fps mode.”

Therefore, the most realistic expectation for the release of GTA VI on consoles is that it will run with a locked frame rate at 30fps, with possible alternatives at 40fps or unlocked framerate for those using monitors or TVs with VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support. The absence of a 60fps mode may be frustrating for part of the community, especially after recent titles like Spider-Man 2 and Horizon Forbidden West offered multiple graphic modes, including optimized performance.

This approach by Rockstar seems to prioritize the visual integrity and art direction of the game, even if it means limiting performance. What remains clear is the high technical standard that the studio usually seeks - which was also observed in the development cycle of Red Dead Redemption 2, released in 2018.

The technical debate is expected to continue until the official gameplay reveal, but a scenario is already emerging in which GTA VI will be more of a visual landmark than a title focused on high performance on consoles.