Despite previous doubts regarding its feasibility,a release of Grand Theft Auto VI on the Nintendo Switch 2 is now being seriously considered by Rockstar Games. Reports indicate the developer is actively testing the game’s performance on the platform, a move that highlights Nintendo’s increasing influence in the gaming market and the potential for a broader audience reach for the highly anticipated title.This exploration comes as the Switch 2 gains momentum, with projections indicating it could surpass combined sales of its competitors within two years.
Despite initial skepticism, a version of Grand Theft Auto VI on the Nintendo Switch 2 may not be entirely off the table. While some industry observers previously deemed it impossible to bring the highly anticipated title to Nintendo’s next-generation console, recent reports suggest Rockstar Games is actively exploring the possibility. The potential arrival of a major open-world title like GTA VI on the Switch 2 underscores the growing power and market influence of Nintendo’s hardware.
According to a reliable source, Rockstar has been conducting tests on the Nintendo Switch 2 to assess the game’s performance and identify potential adjustments needed to ensure a smooth and acceptable experience. This type of cross-platform testing is standard practice in game development, allowing studios to determine if a title can be adapted to less powerful hardware without significant compromises.
The interest in a Switch 2 port stems largely from the console’s strong market performance. The Nintendo Switch 2 has already sold over 10 million units since its launch, and projections estimate sales could reach around 20 million units by the time GTA VI is released in November 2026. This potential customer base represents a significant market share that Rockstar would likely want to capture.
If sales forecasts hold true, the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to surpass the combined sales of the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X within approximately two years. Adapting GTA VI to the Switch 2 would allow Rockstar to maximize returns on the game’s substantial development investment by reaching the widest possible audience. A PC version of the game is also anticipated, likely featuring enhanced graphics and optimizations for high-end hardware, mirroring the improvements seen in the PC release of GTA V.
What compromises might Rockstar need to make?
The Nintendo Switch 2’s processor and GPU represent the primary technical hurdles. The Switch 2’s CPU performs significantly worse than the processor found in the Xbox Series S, and its GPU is also less powerful. However, the console does benefit from hardware-accelerated DLSS support, tailored to its computational capabilities.
Memory and storage aren’t expected to be major limitations, with the Switch 2 featuring 12 GB of unified memory and a storage drive capable of 2.100 MB/s sequential read speeds. However, the memory’s lower bandwidth could negatively impact GPU performance. To optimize performance, Rockstar would likely need to reduce the use of ray tracing, decreasing the number of rays and bounces to minimize its impact on frame rates, potentially resulting in increased image noise.
The game’s resolution would likely start at a low base and be upscaled to 720p or 1080p. Based on the performance of titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws, it’s plausible that GTA VI could render at 360p in handheld mode and upscale to 720p to maintain a stable 30 FPS on the Switch 2. Significant graphical adjustments would also be necessary, potentially reducing quality settings below those found even on the Xbox Series S.
Further compromises would likely be required in areas such as NPC density, physics simulations, and other CPU-intensive elements. These adjustments would result in the Switch 2 version being the least technically advanced, but could still make the port viable. Similar sacrifices were seen in previous Switch ports of demanding titles like The Witcher III and DOOM Eternal, which featured substantial graphical and resolution reductions.
I said a while ago that R* was doing tests to bring it to Switch 2; but tests don’t always equal release. I know an effort has been made to see if they can bring it to the platform. I don’t know the current state of that effort.
— NateTheHate2 (@NateTheHate2) November 17, 2025
Rockstar has not yet confirmed whether GTA VI will ultimately launch on the Nintendo Switch 2, but testing is underway to determine the feasibility of bringing the title to the platform.
