The success of Grand Theft Auto Online over the years has been undeniable. The multiplayer experience is a massive contributor to the continued relevance and post-launch content of Grand 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 of GTA Online content 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 upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6. While the launch of GTA 6 will be a long-awaited new step in the franchise's evolution, the original GTA Online will still have a massive community that will still require attention. Rockstar is then presented with a choice between launching an entirely new online component for Grand Theft Auto 6, or potentially even attempting to maintain two separate online GTA games at the same time.
Why GTA 6's Gunplay and Combat May Need a Rework
As one of the most influential crime-focused game franchises, Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto has maintained a dominant presence in the gaming industry since its first release in the late '90s. With GTA 6 on the horizon, expected to arrive late next year, the franchise is set to solidify its status as the top dog in the genre. That said, a lot has changed since the 2013 release of GTAV. With the extended wait for GTA 6 being over 10 years, other game mechanics, particularly combat, may come under closer scrutiny.
Rockstar May Suffer From GTA Online's Success Going into Grand Theft Auto 6
Grand Theft Auto Online has completely redefined the multiplayer possibilities and 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 within GTA 4. GTA Online truly 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 5 is 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 to GTA Online. For example, it was reported that GTA Online generated $500 million in 2022 alone, almost a decade after GTA 5's release, showing a level of continued profitability that is practically unheard of across most other media.
The financial success of GTA Online can be attributed to a massive demand for in-game currency and the 2022 launch of the GTA+ 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 in GTA Online has also exploded in popularity, largely thanks to content creators across streaming platforms like Twitch, and the launch of GTA 6 forces Rockstar to address some difficult questions.
GTA 6's Multiplayer Would Demand More Resources From Rockstar
Just like how GTA 6 is aiming to expand on the gameplay possibilities of Grand Theft Auto 5's singleplayer, there is also an expectation for the upcoming game to improve on the franchise's online experience. Creating a brand-new multiplayer for GTA 6 would be deeply exciting, but it might be too big of an ask for Rockstar to continue the maintenance and post-launch support of the original GTA Online if this is the case.
A huge amount of Rockstar resources are placed into maintaining GTA Online for the game's tens of millions of estimated monthly players, and it might not be feasible to continue these resources once Grand Theft Auto 6 is released and in full swing. Rockstar could attempt to offer some kind of merge between GTA Online and the multiplayer for GTA 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 around GTA 6 is 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 of GTA Online and its massive playerbase.
- Released
- October 1, 2013
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
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 Progress
See 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 Plates
Favorite ride missing something? Create your own personalized license plates and fit them at LS Customs.
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- n/a
- Cross Save
- n/a
- Franchise
- Grand Theft Auto
- Number of Players
- 1-8 (Online Co-Op); 1-30 (Multiplayer)
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, PS3, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
- How Long To Beat
- 120+ Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- File Size Xbox Series
- 101 GB (July 2023)
