Grand Theft Auto 6 is getting closer, and it seems increasingly viable that the Nintendo Switch 2 could become a new home for the console. There are plenty of reasons why this could happen, but there are also reasons why it might never be. Nintendo and Rockstar could go either way with the decision to develop and release a Switch 2 port, and until either party officially addresses the possibility, it's up in the air.

While there's reason to be skeptical about many GTA 6 rumors, I have to it that the reasons for both sides are compelling. It's hard to say a firm yes or no on the future of Rockstar's series with the Nintendo Switch 2, but there are great arguments from both sides. Regardless of what the companies choose to do, there's a lot of .

10 The Publisher Wants To The Console

Rockstar Seems Open To The Switch 2

Take-Two Interactive, the company that publishes Grand Theft Auto 6, has made it clear that they want to the Nintendo Switch 2. Its CEO, Strauss Zelnick, mentioned to Eurogamer that in the past, Nintendo consoles were seen as more for younger players, but that idea is no longer true. The Switch 2 can attract a much wider audience. While Zelnick didn’t directly say GTA 6 would come to the Switch 2, his comments strongly hint that Take-Two is open to bringing games to the platform.

A Switch 2 version of Civilization 7 will be available on the platform at launch, making it clear that Take-Two sees the console as a profitable market. A GTA 6 release on Switch 2 would take full advantage of this bigger audience. Nintendo has the opportunity thanks to Take-Two's willingness to work with the platform.

9 Nintendo Consoles Are Focused On Families

The Company Does Not Want To Anger Parents

Nintendo prioritizes accessibility for all ages, and while mature games like Bayonetta and Red Dead Redemption exist on Switch, Grand Theft Auto 6’s explicit violence, sexual content, and moral ambiguity starkly contradict Nintendo’s classic image. The last Grand Theft Auto had Trevor torturing a man to get information out of him. If GTA 6 pushes things even further, its high-profile status as a controversial franchise might not be appealing for the Switch 2.

Stylized violence in games like Elden Ring is more palatable than GTA’s gritty realism. The potential backlash from alienating family audiences could outweigh the financial incentive for Nintendo, as despite its move toward more mature games over the years, it could be difficult for Nintendo to pivot this fully. GTA 6 on the Switch 2 could make it harder for parents to trust the company.

8 Nintendo Has ed GTA Games Before

We Got China Town Wars On Nintendo's Platform

Not every Grand Theft Auto game has been on a Nintendo system, but some have. For example, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition was released on the Switch, proving that Nintendo is okay with having mature games despite its family-friendly focus. Nintendo also featured China Town Wars on the DS and Grand Theft Auto on the Game Boy Advance. This makes it more likely that GTA 6, despite its adult themes, could still come to a Nintendo console.

Other mature games like Mortal Kombat 1 and Doom have done well on the Switch, showing that Nintendo is open to more than just old or kid-friendly games. It's not set in stone that the company has to market only to younger audiences, but Switch 2 is a chance for Nintendo to push further to a more mature audience.

7 The GTA 6 File Size Would Be Huge

GTA 6 Is Going To Be A Big Game

Porting GTA 6 to Nintendo Switch 2 will be a much bigger challenge would be for PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to dwarf even Red Dead Redemption 2 in file size, posing a logistical challenge for Switch 2 cartridges. While the successor console may improve storage, Rockstar’s sprawling open worlds demand significant resources. Large s or multi-cartridge releases could frustrate s, and downgrading assets might compromise the experience.

The days when players were perfectly fine having multiple discs for the same game seem to be gone, and getting any game with an installation disc and then a play disc feels weird. Nintendo Switch 2 would likely need to embrace the game-key card system for GTA 6, to say nothing of optimizing the game to run well on the system.

6 Nintendo Has Been Breaking Free From Its Family-Friendly Box

Nintendo Can Be Competition To Sony & Microsoft Again

Nintendo seems to finally be trying to change its reputation as a company that only makes games for kids or less mature games. The success of more adult-oriented games on the Switch, along with the stronger hardware expected in the Switch 2, suggests that Nintendo wants to offer a wider variety of games. If the Switch 2 is as powerful as a PS4 or Xbox One, it could attract players who want big, serious games like Grand Theft Auto 6.

For a long time, Nintendo was focused on its image as a console that parents could trust. This works well, but Nintendo is viewed by many as the "second console" to get after an Xbox or PlayStation. This can be a limiting position, and releasing Grand Theft Auto 6 on the Switch 2 could keep Nintendo at the center of conversation.

5 Take-Two Didn't Actually Mention For Switch 2 Yet

The Company Gave Everything But Confirmation

Take-Two’s CEO has expressed vague interest in Switch 2 , but said nothing definitive, and Rockstar has only confirmed GTA 6 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The absence of a Switch 2 mention, despite the game’s record-breaking hype, suggests it’s not a priority. If a port were planned, early signaling would be likely to capitalize on pre-launch excitement. Announcing GTA 6 during the Switch 2 Direct could have built significant momentum for the console, but no such reveal happened.

Rockstar or Nintendo would need to confirm something like this before it comes out. Without more elaboration about Rockstar's plans for the system, we're just guessing what Rockstar’s Switch 2 means for GTA 6’s chance at a port. While Rockstar specifically announcing a Grand Theft Auto 6 port would be great, it may be a pipe dream, and it's just a relatively unlikely option among many possibilities.

4 Nintendo Switch 2 May Be Able To Handle A Port

The Switch 2 Is Much More Powerful Than The Original

Based on the specs we can assume for Nintendo Switch 2 and comparisons made with the Steam Deck, it will be a big upgrade over the original Switch. If the Switch 2 can handle games like Cyberpunk 2077, even with lower graphics settings, then it might be able to scrape by with a able port of GTA 6.

That is a big question because Nintendo consoles are not known for their ability to keep up with PlayStation and Xbox. Grand Theft Auto 6's advanced physics and lighting effects may be too much for the console. However, if the Switch 2 is a big enough improvement, Rockstar could adjust the game to run smoothly by lowering some visual details and features.

3 Nintendo Prioritizes Exclusivity and Unique Offerings

Some Great Games Ended Up On Nintendo's Consoles

Nintendo thrives on first-party franchises like Zelda and Mario and innovative third-party exclusives like Octopath Traveler. Ports of multiplatform blockbusters like GTA 6 don’t align with the primary strategy of differentiating the Switch ecosystem. Nintendo has a specific audience, and fans keep asking Nintendo to put out more games that the company is known for. Grand Theft Auto 6 is not a game that people are coming to Nintendo for.

The effort to adapt such a complex game may not justify competing with superior-performing versions on other consoles, and Nintendo might be invested in preparing a dynamic holiday season of first-party titles rather than releasing a GTA 6 port. People buy other consoles for Rockstar's games, so Nintendo is going to have to compete with that, which would take time and energy away from its current endeavors.

2 Grand Theft Auto 6 Is Too Big To Miss Out On

It's Likely Going To Be Game of the Year

Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to be one of the biggest and most profitable games ever, so missing an opportunity for a port could set the Switch 2 behind. It's so big that rumored $100 price point is something that many are willing to pay. The game’s popularity and cultural influence mean it could bring in a ton of players, and that's not easy to ignore. Every console manufacturer could benefit from having a piece of the pie.

For Nintendo, having Grand Theft Auto 6 on the Switch 2 would make the console much more appealing to a wider audience and could boost sales significantly. For Rockstar, releasing Switch 2 would reach Nintendo fans who haven’t played GTA games before. The financial benefits for both companies are so great that a Switch 2 version is still possible, even if there are technical hurdles. It's hard to imagine either side casually pas this opportunity.

1 Porting To Switch 2 Means Big Downgrades

Switch 2 Can't Measure Up To PS5 & Series X|S

Even with upgraded hardware, the Switch 2 won’t match the power of the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. A Grand Theft Auto 6 port, however viable, would still require drastic cuts. Lower resolution, stripped-back textures, reduced NPC density, or even removed features could all define the port, potentially attracting a negative reception. Rockstar’s reputation for polished, immersive worlds risks being undermined by a subpar version, and it would do no favors for the conversation around the Switch 2's power.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is great, but it isn't beating the current-gen consoles offered by Sony and Microsoft in of power. Making the wrong move with a struggling port could harm both Rockstar and Nintendo's image, which could potentially make the concept a non-starter. There's no shortage of reasons why a Grand Theft Auto 6 Switch 2 port would make perfect sense, but there's also no shortage of problems that an attempt could encounter.

Source: Eurogamer