The Inside Scoop on Why 'GTA 6' Hits Consoles First, PCs Later

Rockstar, the legendary game developer responsible for hits like 'Grand Theft Auto 5' and 'Red Dead Redemption 2,' has stirred the pot yet again by sticking to the tradition of releasing their games on consoles before gracing the PC world.

Fans were left wondering why, and former Rockstar animator Mike York, who once worked on the iconic 'GTA 5,' has spilled the beans on the behind-the-scenes decision-making.

The delay in PC releases boils down to a simple principle: priorities. According to York, Rockstar aims to prioritize the platform that sells the most copies. In the past, the go-to console was the PlayStation, with its widespread popularity and impressive sales figures. "Most of the time, especially in the past, PlayStation was the big seller. PlayStation was the console to have; it sold more copies than any other console for the most part; everybody is playing PlayStation," says York.

Reflecting on his time working on 'GTA 5,' York discloses that Rockstar focused on both PlayStation and Xbox simultaneously but leaned towards pushing the limits of the PS3 due to its superior hardware for memory and other essential aspects.\

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While a PC version was always in the background during development, it wasn't the star of the show. Instead, it played a supporting role, running alongside the console versions and aiding in their development. Only after the console versions are shipped and functioning as intended does attention pivot towards the PC port.

However, York emphasizes that the PC port is not merely about polishing the game for a new platform. It's about taking the gaming experience to the next level. Developers, armed with new ideas and the enhanced capabilities of PC hardware, can unleash features that were previously too demanding for consoles.

"When the developer goes into the PC port part of the process, what they're going to do is that they now have new ideas to push things," explains York. This includes additions like extra characters, improved foliage, and atmospheric effects like fog.

Yet, the road to a PC release is not without its challenges. Unlike consoles, where the hardware is uniform, PCs come in a myriad of configurations. Each PC is unique, boasting different components, CPUs, GPUs and memory. Testing the game on this diverse landscape becomes a meticulous process, ensuring smooth gameplay across various setups.

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As York points out, "When it comes to a PC, every single person has a different PC, they're running it differently, they have different hardware, different kinds of CPUs and GPUs."

So, the next time you find yourself anxiously awaiting the PC release of a Rockstar game, rest assured that it's not just about crossing the T's and dotting the I's; it's about elevating the gaming experience to new heights on the diverse and dynamic landscape of personal computers.