Grand Theft Auto 6is a highly anticipated release from Rockstar, having taken the longest time to develop out of the series due to the continuing success ofGTA 5’s online component. WhileGTA 6will surely push the series into a new era, there are likely to be features introduced in its predecessor that will carry over.GTA Onlinehas maintained its long-term success in large part due to the microtransactions it brought to the franchise in the form of Shark Card virtual currency packs. Despite the controversial nature of microtransactions,GTA 6is sure to continue these record profits by including this form of them in its online mode.
In the modern gaming landscape filled with free-to-play games, season passes, and skins, it’s no surprise thata game’s microtransaction saleshave become one of the dominant forms of income for many companies in the industry.GTA Onlinehas been tapped into the market for years due to its Shark Cards generating hundreds of millions of dollars for Rockstar’s publisher, Take-Two Interactive. It’s highly unlikely that Take-Two would forego this massive source of income with the upcoming title, especially considering the fact thatGTA Onlineis still supported with updates to this day.
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Following the precedent set byGTA Onlinefor years,Red Dead Redemption 2’s online mode would feature its own in-game purchases.Red Dead Online’s Gold Bars are equivalent to the Shark Cards ofGTA, the system adapted between time periods but functioning exactly the same. With more attention still being given toGTA OnlineversusRed Dead Online, Take-Two is even more likely to want Rockstar to lean intoGTA 6’s online mode monetization. Long-term microtransaction purchases from players are even probably intended to be relied upon for serving to keep the game alive for years after its release.
It’s still unknown ifGTA 6will be complete with an online multiplayer mode upon its release, somethingthe series hasn’t seen sinceGTA 4back in 2008.GTA 6launching with a successor toGTA Onlinealongside its traditional single-player story would be sure to allow the online component to define the game from the beginning, in contrast to its predecessor.GTA 5players had to wait after its initial single-player content release for the online mode to be delivered in an update that was only fleshed out with subsequent patches over the years.
Microtransactions in Grand Theft Auto Have Always Been Controversial
GTA 6focusing on online from its release would continue to cement the franchise’s association with in-game monetization and long-term updates, a direction that has proven to be both divisive and extremely profitable. Long-time fans ofGTA Onlinehave gone through countless updates from Rockstar that have formed the game into the industry powerhouse it is today, but this hasn’t come without some derision.GTA Online’s imbalance and price increaseshave drawn criticism from players, as the game’s many content updates have built up a wealth of pricey in-game goods that make a big difference in Los Santos.
The record profits seen byGTA Online’s tenure as one of the biggest games of all time are sure to almost guarantee that its primary monetization method sees a return in the next game. According to nowinfamousGTA 6leaks, Rockstar is in full development with only the single-player being known to exist. WithGTA 5’s original lifespan being massively extended by the success of its pioneering online mode, the follow-up is surely intended to be able to last just as long at least.GTA Onlineis all but sure to return with its notorious Shark Cards, but it remains to be seen just how farGTA 6’s online will go with microtransactions.
Grand Theft Auto 6is currently in development.
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