The newly surfacedGrand Theft Auto 6images have taken the internet by storm, and one of those images, very conveniently, hints at the game’s timeline. While not a lot is known about the game’s story, and both the teaser and the images haven’t revealed a lot either, there’s one particular image that features a next-gen console right beside a TV. Rockstar Games is known for embedding real-world scenarios and technological breadcrumbs within its assets, so it’s safe to assume that this isn’t a casual prop, considering that there’s a controller on the table too.
The environment’s visual fidelity, combined with this console’s presence, points to a timeline far beyondGTA 5’s 2013-era setting and suggests that Rockstar is positioning the plotline at least post-2024, likely closer to 2027–2029. So, while it might not necessarily circle that exact year range, it’s clear thatGTA 6is being designed to hit home for an audience who has grown up seeing those thin bezel LED TVs and sleek gaming consoles.
Fans Are Wondering if the Image’s Console Could Be PS6
The console seen beside the TV doesn’t match any current PlayStation or Xbox model. However, its angular frame, vertical build, and unique LED layout hint at anext-gen device, prompting a fan onX(formerly Twitter) to speculate whether it could be the PS6. Second is the thin TV bezels and content on the screen itself, which circles modern American gun culture, filmed in a vlog-style format. These elements are likely not just decorative and point directly to the game’s internal calendar, bits of which the fans have seen previously in the teaser in the form of a live-streaming social media clip, too.
Given that Sony’s PS6 is expected in 2027–2028, the device’s appearance within a living room setup implies thatGTA 6likely takes place in the same ballpark. The beer branding, clothing, and tech setup reinforce this. Another bit of support for a post-2025 setting is Rockstar’s need to future-proof the game, and keep it relevant for the next half-decade at least, while staying just far enough ahead to satirizecultural trends in GTA 6that are only starting to emerge now.
The Console Doesn’t Have to Be Sony’s PS6
Whether the console is officiallySony’s PS6is irrelevant - what matters is that its design clearly reflects next-gen hardware not yet available today. So even as a fictional placeholder, its presence anchors the scene in the late 2020s. Plus, if it does turn out to be a PS6, which is unlikely asGTA 6is now expected for a 2026 release and PS6 might not be out till 2027, it will still only strengthen the timeline argument.
This Scene Could Be Set Years After GTA 6 Starts
There’s also a chance for this image not to be an early-game snapshot. If the story spans several years, asGTA 6leaksand casting reports suggest, this image may be from a later point in the storyline. Rockstar has done this before, asGTA 5featured a huge jump after its intro sequence and the epilogue ofRDR2was set a fair bit after the main events. As such, it’s possible forGTA 6to perhaps begin in 2023–2025 and inch closer to the 2030s, though this is purely speculation.
What’s clear, however, is that everymajorGTAgamehas anchored itself within a defined, purposeful era.GTA Vice City,for instance, was set in 1986,San Andreasin 1992, andGTA 4in a slightly grimier version of 2008.GTA 5, on the other hand, was set in a 2013 Los Santos filled with smartphones, startup culture, and housing collapse fallout. In all cases, Rockstar matched real-world timelines closely, down to vehicle models and media. If it’s seemingly including unreleased consoles beyond what’s seen today, it’s likely not without purpose.
