Red Dead Redemption 2 could include more microtransactions than Grand Theft Auto 5, if recent comments from Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two are to be believed. GTA 5 has reportedly made half a billion dollars for the two companies, in part due to its microtransactions and they could want the same for Red Dead Redemption 2.

Speaking during the recent Cowen and Company media conference, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said that "We are convinced that we are probably from an industry view undermonetising on a per-user basis." Zelnick explained that the company can "do more" in terms of microtransactions "without interfering with our strategy of being the most creative and our ethical approach, which is delighting consumers."

Zelnick also stated that "We're not going to grab the last nickel" and that "we're not trying to optimise the monetisiation of everything we do to the nth degree." Moreover, the company never wants to 'irk' players or leave them with a "bad feeling." However, the Take-Two executive also noted that "You can’t give stuff away for free in perpetuity; there’s no business model in that."

Zelnick's comments are unlikely to assure players who say that GTA 5 is too expensive as is. While Rockstar regularly introduces new content to the game's GTA Online multiplayer, including new game modes, new vehicles and other cosmetics, players argue that new items cost too much. The price of some of the new items is so high that it encourages players to grind – therefore taking the fun out of the game – and for casual players it just means that this new, costly content is practically unobtainable.

And the CEO's statements are also troubling for those who plan to pick up Rockstar's cowboy epic, Red Dead Redemption 2. The upcoming game will have multiplayer and although details on its online content are thin, fans have expressed concern that the it will have the same issues as Grand Theft Auto Online. They've pointed to microtransactions, cheating and prioritizing multiplayer content over any single-player additions as their key concerns.

With Red Dead Redemption 2 now delayed to 2018, Rockstar and Take-Two now have a few extra months on their hands to decide how and to what extent that game will feature microtransactions. It will also give the companies plenty of time to address the real concerns that fans have that the game will force them to fork out extra and that it will not be enjoyable without those additional, smaller payments.

Source: GameSpot

Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released in 2018 on PS4 and Xbox One.