Discussions about the frame rate of GTA 6 have taken an interesting turn with a former Rockstar Games developer suggesting that a target frame rate of 30 FPS would be beneficial in visual terms to the game. In a recent statement, Obbe Vermeij, who has worked on the Grand Theft Auto series, explained that this design decision would enable the studio to render a significantly higher polygon count, thus increasing the visual detail present in this expansive open world.
This opinion is diametrically opposed to the majority view of fans, who generally favor frame rates that are higher and particularly at 60 FPS for smooth player experience. Vermeij subsequently offered an explanation for such a trade-off: Essentially, an increase in the polygon count by 2 at 30 FPS as against 60 FPS would have an enormous artistic advantage. Usually, competitive action games require higher frame rates for responsiveness, but in a game like Grand Theft Auto, the solid lower frame rate may be appreciated by players for visual details.
The performance debate has grown since the first trailer dropped. Many are now questioning whether the scale and ambition of the game will allow it to run at a constant 60 FPS on current-gen consoles. The game’s target frame rate for launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S has still to be announced by Rockstar Games. Historically, it has been Rockstar’s tradition to release its PC versions much later than their console counterparts, suggesting therefore that only console players will gain day-one access to the game.
Vermeij is not alone in holding this sudden cautious approach; Mike York, another former animator at Rockstar, has previously voiced similar concerns this year. He said that the studio would probably try to keep a lock to 30 FPS in order to avoid inconsistency brought about by a higher frame rate. Insights from these battle-hardened developers give the gaming community, while waiting with bated breath for the next GTA title, a valuable perspective on the technical challenges and creative compromises involved in delivering an engaging-with the- eye experience.
