Highlights

  • GTA Online has become a massively successful live-service game with a loyal fanbase that consistently spends money on new content, generating around half a billion every year.
  • The long-awaited GTA 6 is set to be announced soon, and while it may offer a similar online experience, players who have invested so much in GTA Online may be hesitant to start from scratch.
  • Rockstar Games needs to tread carefully with GTA 6's online mode and ensure a seamless transition for players, as forcing them to abandon their GTA Online collections could deter them from upgrading and hinder the game's potential success.

It feels like it has been forever since GTA Online was 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-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to be announced this week. While the initial announcement may not mention the next phase of GTA Online, this new game will surely get a similar experience. However, that may not be as great as it sounds.

Since GTA 5 hit store shelves back in 2013, gaming and technology have evolved greatly. Because of that, GTA 6 will likely take the concept to entirely new heights, which could also mean that its version of GTA Online is truly out of this world. That sounds like an exciting prospect, but that may not be enough to convince players to make the jump. After GTA Online fans have spent over a decade exploring Los Santos, they may have little reason to leave.

grand theft auto 6 logo and motorcycle
Related
December 2023 is Going to Be Massive for Grand Theft Auto Fans

December 2023 is shaping up to be an absolutely massive month for fans of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto franchise.

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 anticipated the sheer success of GTA Online when Rockstar Games first launched it at the tail end of 2013. While the Grand Theft Auto franchise 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 has helped GTA Online amass a massive playerbase that 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.

GTA 6 Online Will Need to Tread Carefully

The consistent updates have kept GTA Online going 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 the many custom game modes that 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 what GTA 6's online mode will look like, there is a strong chance it will follow in the footsteps of GTA 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 like Battlefield or Call of Duty do, 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 their GTA Online collections, 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 cause GTA 6 to repeat Red Dead Redemption 2 Online's fate rather than GTA Online's success.