Grand Theft Auto 6 will include an online multiplayer mode similar to its predecessor. New court documents have now revealed a key detail about this highly anticipated feature. The upcoming open-world title from Rockstar Games will support at least 32 players in its online mode.
Legal Battle Uncovers Game Details
This information emerged from an ongoing lawsuit involving Rockstar Games and more than two dozen former employees. The company terminated these workers in October 2025. Rockstar claims the employees shared confidential information on a Discord server. The affected developers and the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain have contested this decision. They argue the firings represent an act of union-busting.
During recent employment tribunal proceedings in the United Kingdom, Rockstar's legal team attempted to keep certain information confidential. Despite these efforts, court documents revealed the player capacity for GTA 6's online multiplayer mode. The company's legal representative reportedly expressed discomfort reading this information aloud in court. They considered it highly confidential material.
Discord Messages Provide Context
The People Make Games report examined court documents containing messages from terminated employees. One developer sent a message on Discord discussing playtest sessions. The employee claimed Rockstar did not want more than five people taking time off simultaneously. According to the message, this policy made it difficult to organize 32-player playtest sessions for the online mode.
"Not sure how that was difficult," the developer added in their message. Another person responded to this comment. They wrote, "Sounds like you have multiple studios of QA testers, surely someone can manage to organise a 32 player session and let people have their time off."
Limited Official Information Available
Rockstar Games has shared very little official information about GTA 6 so far. The company announced the game would launch in November. Beyond this release window and the newly revealed player count, details remain scarce. The court proceedings have not disclosed any other specifics about GTA 6's multiplayer features.
Given the tremendous success of GTA Online, expectations run high for the sequel's multiplayer component. GTA Online launched just weeks after GTA V's initial release. It has since become a massive revenue generator for Rockstar through its ongoing updates and microtransactions. Industry observers expect the company to develop a similar or expanded online experience for GTA 6.
What This Revelation Means
This 32-player capacity does not come as a complete surprise to gaming enthusiasts. The current GTA Online supports exactly 32 participants. This includes 30 active players and 2 spectators in certain modes. The court documents do not clarify whether GTA 6 will maintain this exact number at launch.
Several important questions remain unanswered:
- Will different multiplayer modes support varying player counts?
- Could freeroam modes accommodate more or fewer than 32 players?
- What specific features and mechanics will distinguish GTA 6's online experience?
- When exactly will the online mode launch relative to the base game?
Despite these uncertainties, this player count represents one of the few concrete details about GTA 6's multiplayer component. Rockstar apparently considered this information sensitive enough to warrant legal protection. The company allegedly terminated employees for discussing it in a Discord chat. This suggests the developer places significant importance on controlling information about their upcoming title.
The employment tribunal recently ruled that Rockstar would not have to pay back wages to the fired employees during the ongoing case. This legal battle continues as both sides present their arguments. Meanwhile, gaming communities worldwide continue speculating about what other surprises GTA 6 might contain when it finally launches later this year.
