Grand Theft Auto 5's online mode could be getting a fairly sizable playerbase boost in the near future. Take-Two, Rockstar's parent company, has outlined its strategy to get Grand Theft Auto Online into a new batch of player's hands soon.
The newest tactic being considered to get players back into Grand Theft Auto 5's multiplayer mode, Grand Theft Auto Online, is putting out a new Grand Theft Auto Online only release. This re-release would cut the game's single player content out entirely in favor of a lower cost of entry for players wanting to get into the multiplayer - a move being suggested by Take-Two Interactive.
This cheaper, "low-friction" option for players who still haven't experienced the record-breaking Grand Theft Auto 5 doesn't have a set release date yet, but going from past examples of Take-Two releasing standalone multiplayer modes, Grand Theft Auto Online could receive a standalone edition very soon.
This content separation has worked for Take-Two in the past, as it performed a similar release with Red Dead Online, the multiplayer aspect of Red Dead Redemption 2. The wave of support the multiplayer-only release gave to Rockstar's wild-west shooter has seen Take-Two handing out free gifts to all Red Dead Online players as thanks. The same could happen for long-time players of GTA Online, so there's plenty of reason to look forward to the solo release for players both new and old.
For a game to still have an active and updated online scene after nearly 8 years is rare, but not entirely unexpected for a series as monolithic as Grand Theft Auto. Take-Two obviously doesn't want its prized release to die off, especially if rumors of a long-awaited sequel are true. Reinforcing its loyal player base with new blood would put Rockstar's series in a good place moving forward, and if the boost in the player count seen in Red Dead Online is to be repeated, this fresh release could indeed be the way to go.
The steep in-game cost of entry to the new content has been both a blessing and a curse, with a rising need to grind the most profitable content to generate funds in Grand Theft Auto Online. However, this need to accumulate capital keeps players engaged and goal-oriented, which also kickstarts the game's ambient PvP scene as gangs clash in order to secure highly profitable "business opportunities" for themselves. It's a neat side-effect of Take-Two's obvious drive to boost micro-transaction sales, which are admittedly the driving force behind Grand Theft Auto Online's well-furnished update schedule. A fresh batch of new players hitting Los Santos in the near future will hopefully see this trend carry on into the future- at least until there's finally news about Grand Theft Auto 6.
Grand Theft Auto Online's standalone release currently has no confirmed release date, and is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Source: Morgan Stanley