The success ofGrand Theft Auto Onlineover the years has been undeniable. The multiplayer experience is a massive contributor to the continued relevance and post-launch content ofGrand Theft Auto 5. Rockstar has been continually adding to this mode, which is now available as a standalone release, for over a decade, with players now having a huge range of missions, races, unlocks, and criminal enterprises to explore.
Of course, this level ofGTA Onlinecontent over such a long time has been quite costly for Rockstar in terms of its resources, and the robust supports has set a high bar for any online mode of the upcomingGrand Theft Auto 6. While the launch ofGTA 6will be a long-awaited new step in the franchise’s evolution, the originalGTA Onlinewill still have a massive community that will still require attention. Rockstar is then presented with a choice between launching an entirely new online component forGrand Theft Auto 6, or potentially even attempting to maintain two separate onlineGTAgames at the same time.
Rockstar May Suffer From GTA Online’s Success Going into Grand Theft Auto 6
Grand Theft Auto Onlinehas completely redefined the multiplayer possibilitiesand expectations of the franchise, with the mode massively improving on the scope of content that was present in past multiplayer experiences for the IP like those withinGTA 4.GTA Onlinetruly allows the player to rise through the ranks of the criminal underworld of Los Santos, offering a surprising level of storytelling as well as classic sandbox chaos.
Staggeringly,Grand Theft Auto 5is the single highest-grossing piece of entertainment media in history, generating close to $8 billion in revenue, and a huge portion of this figure can directly be tied toGTA Online. For example, it was reported thatGTA Onlinegenerated $500 million in 2022 alone, almost a decade afterGTA 5’s release, showing a level of continued profitability that is practically unheard of across most other media.
The financial success ofGTA Onlinecan be attributed to a massive demand for in-game currency andthe 2022 launch of theGTA+ subscription service, with Rockstar sitting on a goldmine that is showing no real signs of slowing down. In the past few years, the community behind roleplaying inGTA Onlinehas also exploded in popularity, largely thanks to content creators across streaming platforms like Twitch, and the launch ofGTA 6forces Rockstar to address some difficult questions.
GTA 6’s Multiplayer Would Demand More Resources From Rockstar
Just like howGTA 6is aiming to expand on the gameplay possibilities ofGrand Theft Auto 5’s singleplayer, there is also an expectation for the upcoming game to improve on the franchise’s online experience. Creating abrand-new multiplayer forGTA 6would be deeply exciting, but it might be too big of an ask for Rockstar to continue the maintenance and post-launch support of the originalGTA Onlineif this is the case.
A huge amount of Rockstar resources are placed into maintainingGTA Onlinefor the game’s tens of millions of estimated monthly players, and it might not be feasible to continue these resources onceGrand Theft Auto 6is released and in full swing. Rockstar could attempt to offer some kind of merge betweenGTA Onlineand the multiplayer forGTA 6, but this would still run the risk of abandoning players of the original who cannot afford to move over to the upcoming title. Of course,the hype aroundGTA 6is absolutely massive, and it is expected to dominate the gaming industry when it releases next year, but Rockstar is still faced with some tentative decisions over how it handles the potential end ofGTA Onlineand its massive playerbase.
Grand Theft Auto Online
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience GTA Online, a dynamic and ever-evolving online universe for up to 30 players, including all existing gameplay upgrades and content released since launch ready to enjoy solo or with friends.Career ProgressSee all the challenges you’ve completed in your GTA Online Career. You can also discover new ones and earn valuable rewards as you rise through the criminal ranks.Personalize Your PlatesFavorite ride missing something? Create your own personalized license plates and fit them at LS Customs.
