As the May 26, 2026 release date for Grand Theft Auto VI on consoles draws nearer, fresh rumors have surfaced suggesting Rockstar Games may be working on dramatically expanding the online player count for its next-gen multiplayer mode, unofficially dubbed GTA Online 2.0.
According to a post by Fravilys, a former editor at French fan site Rockstar Mag, sources familiar with the project claim that Rockstar is currently testing 64-player servers, with internal ambitions to increase that number to 96—three times the size of the original GTA Online‘s 32-player cap.
Fravilys wrote on Medium that GTA 6’s multiplayer, codenamed GTA6MP, is “much more advanced” at this stage than GTA Online was in its early development from 2008 to 2013.
The new version reportedly aims for seamless session blending, allowing players from different sessions to interact without loading screens or disruptive transitions—a major leap forward in open-world multiplayer design.
While Rockstar has not officially commented on these claims, the possibility of higher player counts has excited fans. In community roleplay servers using the FiveM platform—now owned by Rockstar—some user-made maps already support anywhere from 200 to 2,000 players, though those experiences can be chaotic and less optimized.
Many players and creators see 96 players as a sweet spot: enough to bring life to the game world, but not so many that chaos overwhelms structure. Even current 32-player servers can feel sparse depending on player distribution across the map.
If Rockstar implements this change, it could lead to more dynamic missions, larger-scale heists, and busier public spaces in its new Vice City-inspired map. With GTA Online 2.0 expected to be deeply integrated with the single-player experience, the higher player count could redefine what fans expect from an open-world online game.
Until Rockstar provides official details, all such rumors should be treated cautiously. Still, if accurate, the move to 64–96 player sessions would mark a significant and welcome evolution for the franchise’s online ecosystem.
