Despite both games being years old and receiving fewer major updates than in their prime, Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Redemption 2 are still pulling in massive player numbers in 2026.
New data highlighted by RockstarINTEL shows that Rockstar Games’ online titles remain some of the biggest games in the industry, even as anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI continues to grow.
According to Ampere Analysis data shared through The Game Business, GTA Online reached 17.9 million players across PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam during March 2026. That figure reportedly excludes players using the Rockstar Games Launcher and Epic Games Store, meaning the actual player count is likely even higher.
What makes the number even more impressive is how little it declined compared to February. The game only lost around 59,000 players month-over-month, proving Rockstar’s multiplayer juggernaut still has incredible staying power over a decade after launch.
The report states GTA Online was the third most-played game of the month, sitting behind only Fortnite and Counter-Strike 2.
GTA V Continues Climbing PlayStation Charts
Sony’s latest PlayStation download charts also paint a strong picture for Rockstar’s games.
On PS5, Grand Theft Auto V ranked as the third most-downloaded game in Europe during April 2026, improving one spot from the previous month. In North America, the game climbed from eighth place to seventh.
The PS4 version also saw gains. GTA V moved from 14th to 9th place in Europe and from 14th to 12th in North America.
Meanwhile, Red Dead Redemption 2 continued its surprising dominance on PS4. The western epic reportedly remained the most-downloaded PS4 title in both Europe and North America, continuing a streak that has lasted since last summer.
Rockstar’s Older Games Still Print Money
The continued success of GTA Online helps explain why Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive have kept supporting the game for so long.
Recent discussions surrounding leaked Rockstar data have also sparked renewed conversation online about just how profitable GTA Online remains. Community reactions on Reddit highlighted claims that the game continues generating enormous revenue through microtransactions and GTA+.
Players also pointed out the massive PlayStation audience, with many believing Sony remains Rockstar’s strongest console platform for online engagement.
Even Red Dead Online — a mode often criticized for receiving limited support — still maintains a sizable player base years after Rockstar shifted resources away from it.
GTA 6 Hype Hasn’t Slowed GTA Online
One of the most surprising takeaways is that excitement for GTA 6 does not appear to be hurting GTA Online’s numbers at all.
If anything, the upcoming release seems to be driving more players back into Rockstar’s ecosystem. Fans continue grinding businesses, collecting cars, and revisiting Los Santos while waiting for Rockstar’s next major release.
Rockstar has also continued rolling out smaller GTA Online updates and GTA+ refreshes throughout 2026, helping maintain player engagement between bigger announcements.
With GTA 6 scheduled for release later this year, Rockstar now finds itself in a rare position: operating one of the biggest live-service games in the world while simultaneously preparing for what could become the biggest entertainment launch in history.
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