GTA 6’s preload data reportedly includes references to multiplayer session features, suggesting Rockstar has already placed online infrastructure in the game’s launch build. The reported discovery comes as preloading is set to begin November 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with the installation said to require as much as 212 GB of storage.
PlayStation Game Size identified three strings in PlayStation backend data that appear related to joining or starting online activities:
- “joinSession”
- “launchActivity”
- “launchMultiplayerActivity”
The references point to support for creating or accessing co-op sessions, but they do not establish when GTA 6’s multiplayer component will go live. The mode is not expected to be available at the reported November 19 launch, and Rockstar has not detailed its online rollout plans in the material cited here.
That leaves room for sharply different timelines. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier has suggested the new multiplayer mode could be held until 2027, potentially avoiding disruption to the still-successful GTA Online business. Separately, earlier leaks from an alleged Rockstar employee Discord server claimed that 32-player test sessions had taken place as early as October 2025.
If the backend references are accurate, the presence of networking hooks in the preload build could mean Rockstar has a more established starting point than it did for the online components of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2. The key unresolved detail is whether Rockstar intends to activate those systems soon after launch or keep them dormant for a longer period.
