GTA VI Will Run at 30 FPS on All Consoles: PS5 Pro Gets Improved Ray Tracing

The question had been making the rounds for months on forums, streams and chats: how will Grand Theft Auto VI perform on Sony's most powerful console? Rockstar has finally spoken and, as reported by IGN España, the answer is clear: the game will run at 30 FPS on all consoles. The PS5 Pro doesn't walk away empty-handed, but its advantage comes not as a smoother frame rate but as optimized ray tracing.

It matters, a lot, because we're talking about the most anticipated release of the generation and because a large part of the audience bought (or was planning to buy) a PS5 Pro expecting that more power would mean more frames. Rockstar has chosen a different path: the same frame rate for everyone, with the extra muscle devoted to lighting and reflections.

What you need to know

• 30 FPS for everyone: GTA VI will run at that frame rate on all consoles, with no exceptions.
• PS5 Pro, better lighting but no extra smoothness: the Pro-specific improvements focus on optimizing ray tracing (ray tracing).
• Built from scratch: Rockstar says the game has been developed entirely from the ground up, without reusing earlier foundations.
• It's official information: we're no longer talking about rumors or leaks, but an announcement from the studio itself.

What changes depending on your console

Based on what we know so far, the difference between playing on a standard console and on a PS5 Pro won't be in controller responsiveness or how smooth the image is, but in visual quality. Ray tracing is the technique that simulates how light really behaves: reflections in puddles, on glass and on car bodywork, more believable shadows and more natural lighting. That's where the Pro model will pull ahead.

The information available doesn't cover resolutions, alternative graphics modes or other platforms, so it's best not to take anything else for granted until Rockstar shares more details.

Why Rockstar is betting on 30 FPS

The studio stresses that the game has been built from scratch, and that phrase explains quite a lot. Rockstar has always prioritized the density of its worlds: traffic, pedestrians, physics, weather and a level of detail that pushes the hardware to its limit. When that's the goal, frame rate is usually the first thing to be sacrificed. It's no surprise to anyone who knows the studio's track record, but it is a letdown for those who hoped the PS5 Pro would be the exception.

There's also an equality angle: all console players will have the same experience when it comes to smoothness. Nobody will aim or drive with an advantage because they paid for a more expensive machine.

Our take

At Underworld Lordz, competitive play is what we live for, and there frames aren't a luxury: they're reaction time, reading movement and aiming precision. That's why we find it hard to applaud a game of this scale, well into the current generation, staying at 30 FPS even on the most expensive hardware on the market. Pretty reflections look great in a trailer; smoothness is something you feel in every shootout and every chase.

That said, we have to be fair: GTA isn't a competitive arena shooter, it's a gigantic open world, and we'd rather have a rock-solid 30 FPS than a higher frame rate full of drops. Stability will be the key. If Rockstar delivers a solid, stutter-free image, the decision will be easier to understand. If not, the criticism will be deserved.

For content creators, the outlook is bittersweet. Improved ray tracing will make clips and thumbnails look spectacular, but PS5 Pro owners were expecting more than better lighting. We would have liked, at the very least, to be able to choose between quality and performance. Having the decision made for us is what we like least.

What do you think?

The debate is on, and sides have already formed within the team. Drop by the chat or our Discord and tell us: is 30 FPS enough for you if the game looks stunning, or do you think the PS5 Pro deserved a smoother mode?