Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer component of Grand Theft Auto 5, continues to be regularly updated with modes such as Stockpile and Bombushka Run being added in recent weeks. However, this update schedule may slow down soon, says Rockstar Games.

During a recent interview, Rockstar's director of design, Imran Sarwar, explains that the rollout of GTA Online updates "may change a little in order to encourage players to try Red Dead Redemption 2 when it launches." Although "It would be great to have players splitting time between two incredible worlds," says the developer, the team at Rockstar will just have to "see how things evolve."

Sarwar adds that "One of the enjoyable things about working on a project like this is that you can iterate quickly, and change and evolve plans fairly quickly too, so we don’t have to be as clear in our plans as with other projects." In this same interview, Sarwar explains that Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the reasons why there wasn't any GTA 5 story DLC. It seems that the decision to scrap this story DLC is also part of the 'iterative' and evolving plans that Sarwar describes.

It should also be noted that Red Dead Redemption 2 will have its own multiplayer component, with fans expecting it to be similar to GTA Online. If that is Rockstar's plan for the upcoming game, then it's not hard to see why the developer won't commit to any GTA Online updates after Red Dead Redemption 2 launches.

But while many fans may have expected a shakeup, that doesn't mean that everyone will be happy with Sarwar's comments. The sustainability of games as a service (like GTA Online) has recently come into question, with some wondering how games like this can survive when players are constantly hopping around to the next big thing.

Rockstar may hope that fans of its games will find time for both GTA Online and Red Dead Redemption 2, but that seems unlikely. And Rockstar must realize this too or it would not be considering changing the GTA Online update schedule.

Some fans may now be wondering what will happen to GTA Online if Red Dead Redemption 2 becomes too popular. Rockstar's game is not expected to sell as much as GTA 5 but even so, many may be fearing that the multiplayer Grand Theft Auto world may be forced to close as a result.