Summary
It feels like it has been forever sinceGTA Onlinewas released, and in that time, it has become a behemoth in the online space. Rockstar Games has filled its acclaimed open world with so much to do, which is why millions of players have flocked to it. And after years of anticipation, the long-awaitedGrand Theft Auto 6is set to be announced this week. While the initial announcement may not mention the next phase ofGTA Online,this new game will surely get a similar experience. However, that may not be as great as it sounds.
SinceGTA 5hit store shelves back in 2013, gaming and technology have evolved greatly. Because of that,GTA 6will likely take the concept to entirely new heights, which could also mean thatits version ofGTA Onlineis truly out of this world. That sounds like an exciting prospect, but that may not be enough to convince players to make the jump. AfterGTA Onlinefans have spent over a decade exploring Los Santos, they may have little reason to leave.
It Seems Like GTA 6’s Online Mode is in a Tough Spot
GTA Online Has Built a Loyal Fanbase
No one really could have anticipatedthe sheer success ofGTA Onlinewhen Rockstar Games first launched it at the tail end of 2013. While theGrand Theft Autofranchise had dabbled in multiplayer before, that was never the focus of the franchise. However, that all seemingly changed once players took their first steps into this massive new online experience. At launch, it may have been a bit lackluster, but after years of support, it has become one of the biggest live-service games out there.
The sheer amount of content on offer hashelpedGTA Onlineamass a massive playerbasethat consistently sinks money into the experience. Rockstar consistently adds new content to the game every single year, with most years seeing around two massive updates with dozens of new purchasable items mixed in. This helps the game make an average of around half a billion every year. And ever since the mode got its own standalone release in 2022, that number has likely only grown.
The consistent updates have keptGTA Onlinegoing strong for a decade, which is impressive to see. Because of that length, many diehard players have spent so much time within its world. They have built massive collections of vehicles, amassed countless cosmetics, purchased all sorts of properties, and become masters at themany custom game modesthat it offers. They have collected and spent so much over the years, so it may be hard to convince them to part with it.
While Rockstar has not revealed whatGTA 6’s online modewill look like, there is a strong chance it will follow in the footsteps ofGTA Online. If it does do that, then the studio needs to make sure that it approaches this new game mode extremely carefully. Instead of forcing players to start from square one likeBattlefieldorCall of Dutydo, Rockstar needs to make the transition as seamless as possible. If players are forced to leave all of their content behind, then they may have little reason to upgrade.
Additionally, if Rockstar forces players to abandon theirGTA Onlinecollections, then they could be a bit wearier of buying into this new experience. If players know that their content will just vanish once the next game rolls around, then spending that money may seem like a waste. Even if the seventh game takes another decade to come out, there is a chance that this approach could causeGTA 6to repeatRed Dead Redemption 2 Online’s fate rather thanGTA Online’s success.
Grand Theft Auto 5
WHERE TO PLAY
When a young street hustler, a retired bank robber and a terrifying psychopath find themselves entangled with some of the most frightening and deranged elements of the criminal underworld, the U.S. government and the entertainment industry, they must pull off a series of dangerous heists to survive in a ruthless city in which they can trust nobody, least of all each other.Grand Theft Auto V for PC offers players the option to explore the award-winning world of Los Santos and Blaine County in resolutions of up to 4k and beyond, as well as the chance to experience the game running at 60 frames per second.The game offers players a huge range of PC-specific customization options, including over 25 separate configurable settings for texture quality, shaders, tessellation, anti-aliasing and more, as well as support and extensive customization for mouse and keyboard controls. Additional options include a population density slider to control car and pedestrian traffic, as well as dual and triple monitor support, 3D compatibility, and plug-and-play controller support.
