If you’re asking "when does Grand Theft Auto V come out," you’re probably either a time traveler from 2012, someone who just bought their first console, or—more likely—you're totally confused by Rockstar’s decade-long rollout. Honestly, it’s a fair question. Most games come out once. They have a launch day, maybe a "Game of the Year" edition later, and that’s it.
GTA 5 is different.
This game has had more "release dates" than some franchises have sequels. It has hopped across three different console generations. It has survived the rise and fall of entire social media platforms. Because the game is constantly being "re-released" or updated with massive new versions, the answer to when it comes out depends entirely on what machine you’re sitting in front of.
The original launch: Where it all started
Let's go back to the beginning. The very first time anyone could actually buy this game was September 17, 2013.
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I remember the hype. It was almost suffocating. Rockstar had been silent for years, and then suddenly, we were playing as three different protagonists in a version of Los Angeles that felt impossibly big for the hardware at the time. This initial launch was strictly for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
At that point, if you asked "when does Grand Theft Auto V come out for PC," the answer was a shrug and a "maybe someday." Rockstar was notoriously tight-lipped about anything beyond the aging consoles of 2013.
Moving to the "Next Gen" (which is now Old Gen)
Gaming moves fast. Only a year after the original release, the PS4 and Xbox One were the new kings of the living room. Rockstar wasn't about to leave money on the table.
On November 18, 2014, GTA 5 "came out" again.
This wasn't just a port. They added a first-person mode, which changed the game's feel entirely. If you've ever tried to drive a Cheetah in first-person through downtown Los Santos, you know it’s basically a high-speed heart attack simulator.
The PC wait felt like an eternity
PC players had it rough. While console players were already deep into their second year of GTA Online, the master race was still waiting.
After several painful delays (it was supposed to be January, then March), GTA 5 finally came out for PC on April 14, 2015.
It was the definitive version. 4K resolution support, the Rockstar Editor for making movies, and a frame rate that didn't chug when three explosions happened at once. For many, this was the "real" launch.
When does Grand Theft Auto V come out for PS5 and Xbox Series X?
This is where people started getting a little annoyed. "The Expanded and Enhanced" edition was announced during a PS5 showcase, and the internet basically groaned in unison. We wanted GTA 6, but we got another version of V.
After a short delay, this version officially released on March 15, 2022.
It brought 60 FPS to consoles, ray tracing, and much faster loading times. If you’re playing on a modern console today, this is the version you’re likely looking for.
Recent and Future "Release" Windows
Believe it or not, there's actually a "new" version even now.
- PC Enhanced Version: Just recently, on March 4, 2025, Rockstar finally brought the "Expanded and Enhanced" features (the ones PS5/Series X got in 2022) to the PC version.
- The End of the Road: With Grand Theft Auto VI now officially scheduled for November 19, 2026, the era of GTA 5 "coming out" is finally drawing to a close.
Why does it keep coming out?
Money. Obviously. But also, the scale of GTA Online.
When the game first launched in 2013, GTA Online was a broken mess. You couldn't even get into a race without the servers dying. Today, it’s a behemoth. Rockstar has used these hardware transitions to keep the engine updated so they can keep selling Shark Cards and adding flying motorcycles. It’s a business model that works, even if it feels like we've been playing the same game for a third of our lives.
What you should do now
If you still haven't played it, or you're looking to jump back in before the sequel drops in late 2026, here is the move:
- Check your platform: If you are on PS5 or Xbox Series X, make sure you aren't playing the old PS4/Xbox One version via backward compatibility. The native "Series" or "PS5" version (released March 2022) is vastly superior.
- PC Players: Ensure you’ve updated to the "Enhanced" version that dropped in March 2025 to get the latest ray-tracing and performance tweaks.
- Prepare for the end: With the November 2026 date set for GTA 6, now is the time to finish those Heists. Rockstar will likely shift their entire focus away from Los Santos once Vice City arrives.
The saga of when this game "comes out" is a weird piece of gaming history. It’s a game that exists in a state of constant rebirth. Just don't be surprised if, in 2030, we're talking about a "Super Enhanced" version for the PlayStation 7.