Rockstar’s decision to delay GTA 6 until 2026 has stirred up plenty of chatter, especially on streaming platforms like Twitch. Twitch CEO Dan Clancy shared some thoughts on why this new release might initially feel odd and why Grand Theft Auto 5 won’t just vanish from the spotlight anytime soon.
Earlier this May, Rockstar confirmed the delay of GTA 6’s launch to May 26, 2026. While some game developers might see this as a chance to release their titles without competing with the GTA talk, others must carefully consider their timing to avoid clashing with one of the most anticipated games in recent memory.
Dan Clancy pointed out that Twitch’s Grand Theft Auto 5 category remains one of the platform’s most popular. He believes the GTA 6 launch will be “a little strange” because it’s expected to come out on consoles first without the roleplay (RP) element that has been a cornerstone of GTA 5’s streaming success.
Why GTA RP Keeps GTA 5 Relevant Even After GTA 6
Speaking with The Game Business live, Clancy admitted he was personally a bit bummed by the delay because, like most of us, he’s eager to jump in. His take on the roleplay factor caught my attention: since GTA 6 won’t launch with RP, the Twitch community will likely stick with GTA 5 for that experience for quite some time.
He said, “The interesting thing was it was going to be a little strange because whenever it does come out, it’s coming out on the console and roleplay will not be part of the initial launch.” Roleplay has been a massive driver of GTA 5’s popularity on Twitch, so it makes sense that viewers and streamers will keep coming back.
Clancy added, “So, GTA V will still interestingly be popular on Twitch even as everyone’s playing GTA 6 for a while, so I will find the whole GTA space exciting as six comes out and then as it adds PC play and roleplay.”
It’s worth noting that the integration of GTA RP in GTA 6 remains unconfirmed, though leaks suggest Rockstar might be working on their own RP system. Even if that’s true, it probably won’t arrive until the PC version launches, which is expected sometime after the console release.
So, while GTA 6 will undoubtedly grab attention on Twitch, GTA 5’s roleplay scene will keep it relevant for a good while longer. Interesting how an older game keeps holding its ground, right? Yikes, the streaming world is wild.
What do you think? Will GTA 5’s RP community dominate Twitch even after GTA 6 arrives? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—I’m curious to hear your take on this Twitch and Rockstar saga.
