Rockstar isn't stopping with L.A. Noire when it comes to Nintendo Switch releases, at least if semi-credible Reddit leaker DasVergeben is to be believed. Grand Theft Auto 5 just might be coming to the hybrid console.
Take-Two has always been upfront about its support of the platform, and it would absolutely make sense to port one of the most popular games across the current and previous generations to one of the fastest selling consoles of the past year.
Both GTA 5 and the Nintendo Switch are extremely popular, so this is a match made in heaven.
Considering the other games that saw Switch releases, such as DOOM, the hardware of the console is definitely up to snuff. GTA 5 would need to take a graphical downgrade compared to the first release, albeit only a minor one, and it could run happily on the faux-handheld.
DasVergeben, whose previous exploits as a leaker involved correctly revealing that the fighting game Injustice 2 would receive the cast of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as DLC fighters, recently posted an extensive list of leaks covering a wide range of platforms and games.
Most of it is pretty obviously hogwash and only casts doubt on the credibility of the leaker, but tidbits here and there seem legit.
Among those more legitimate leaks is one stating that GTA 5 will be released on the Nintendo Switch around Q3 2018, and that the game's impending release will be announced during an upcoming Nintendo Direct broadcast. DasVergeben also suggests that Red Dead Redemption may also be ported, but this is much less likely.
Bringing GTA 5 to the Switch seems like a fantastic deal for all involved. L.A. Noire, in spite of not having any multiplayer features, brought Crews to the Switch already, further lending credibility to this claim.
The Nintendo Switch is moving a lot of units rapidly, already having surpassed the lifetime sales of the Wii U. There is obviously a market for the console, and once players have a platform, they want games.
Though things are very far from the state months ago where the Switch was basically a Zelda machine with little else of note, it still doesn't have a library comparable to its competitors.
A strong, established title like GTA 5 would be a huge boost to the console's already glowing image, and it would also be the first truly portable version of the game, as playing such a resource intensive game on a laptop isn't particularly viable.
If this does turn out to be true, for which there is a pretty good chance, it would be the sixth version of GTA 5 to be released, and would undoubtedly toss a few million on top of the current sales numbers in a very short amount of time — not that the game has been struggling or anything.
Skyrim proved that a several-year-old game which was popular once can absolutely survive — no, thrive — on the Switch, with a large chunk of players being returning fans who bought and played the dragon shouting simulator on other platforms before.
This move would also make sense for Rockstar.
They've made their entrance on the platform with L.A. Noire, but that title was only semi-successful back in the day. They would make huge waves with GTA 5 and GTA Online being available on the Switch, and several boatloads of cash in the process.
All the reasons for why this would be a good idea combine to make for a pretty compelling argument in favor of DasVergeben's statement, but it also means that this may not be a leak coming from some inside source, but a near-certain educated guess.
Either way, we'd say there's a pretty huge chance of it being true.
