Will GTA 5 Ever Release For The Nintendo Switch?
With three ports across three console generations, "Grand Theft Auto 5" has surpassed "Skyrim" in terms of re-releasing, re-packaging, and remastering a single title in a single franchise. However, despite being available on nearly every console since its original release on the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, there's one major platform it hasn't made the jump to: the Nintendo Switch, a powerhouse handheld that's seen ports of massive open world games like "The Witcher 3," "Assassin's Creed: Black Flag," and yes, the aforementioned "Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim."
Why not, one might ask. Being a game released two console generations ago in 2013, the possibility of a "GTA 5" port doesn't seem so unreasonable as, say, bringing a full port of "Elden Ring" to the Switch. Especially considering the fact that "Saints Row 4," a game that came out in the same year as "GTA 5," had a very successful repackaging to the Switch with just a few graphical compromises (per Nintendo Life).
The short answer? Despite having viable specs to run on the Nintendo Switch, the game is just too dang big.
GTA 5 is just too much for the Switch
While "Saints Row 4" takes up an average of 10GB of space (depending on the platform), "GTA 5" clocks in at a whopping 75GB; 90GB, if you're looking to get the premium next-gen edition. The Nintendo Switch, unfortunately, has 32GB of internal storage in the base hardware. Even the 4K Switch OLED model only goes up to 64GB, leaving a behemoth game like "GTA 5" with very few options for porting.
Or, to be more specific, the means of purchase and play would be extremely limited. It's not unfeasible for the game to be shaved down to fit on the 64GB cartridges, but that would mean any Switch owner who doesn't have a 64GB+ microSD card or the OLED model could only play on the physical copy. Digital-only release strategies for smaller titles makes sense, especially when it comes to cutting down on manufacturing costs — but selling a game that requires a hard copy, extra peripheral purchases, DLC for the online portion, or an entire hardware model upgrade to get it running? That's just a bad marketing strategy.
All in all, trying to find a viable way of porting this massive game to the Switch invites too many complications that are simply not worth it. Especially when the multiplayer section of "GTA 5," "Grand Theft Auto Online," is still raking in a ton of revenue with a robust playerbase and constant content updates. It's time to hang up the hat on waiting for a Switch port and start asking if fans are getting "GTA 6" anytime soon.