The Grand Theft Auto franchise has transformed significantly over the years. Even dismissing the shift from a top-down action-adventure franchise to third-person open worlds, the modern incarnation of Grand Theft Auto is changing year to year. Grand Theft Auto Online has become a major priority for Rockstar, to the point that single-player DLC has been seemingly abandoned. However, Rockstar said it does still plan to continue creating single-player GTA experiences going forward.

In an interview with GQ Magazine, Rockstar's Director of Design Tarek Hamad laid out that the studio is not abandoning single-player, despite appearances. When asked if Rockstar will continue to tell single-player stories, Hamad said, "Absolutely." While he didn't elaborate in any way, it's safe to assume he means something akin to main game releases having single-player campaigns. While Grand Theft Auto Online may be Rockstar's post-launch focus, Grand Theft Auto 5 still came first.

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With that said, Rockstar doesn't deny how much Grand Theft Auto Online has become the company's focus outside of major releases in the franchise. If anything, Rockstar continues to contribute to the idea that Grand Theft Auto Online isn't just the present of the franchise, but also its future. Rockstar Design Director Scott Butchard describes how with GTA Online, players can expect to see "more of that single-player element in there."

cayo perico heist update

Butchard discussed Grand Theft Auto Online's recent patch, which added the Cayo Perico Heist. The Cayo Perico content can be played by one person, but isn't necessarily a single-player experience. Still, it is thick with unique content and storytelling that's clearly been informed by Rockstar's single-player design experience. For Grand Theft Auto fans hoping for single-player DLC, the Cayo Perico Heist update maybe as close as Rockstar will get in Grand Theft Auto Online.

What's next for Grand Theft Auto 5 and Grand Theft Auto Online is unclear, but if the success of the Cayo Perico Heist update is any indication, there will likely be more of the same. Grand Theft Auto Online content that can be played single-player or multiplayer, as well as have heavy monetization, may just become the norm going forward.

Rockstar's adoration for post-launch DLC in Grand Theft Auto shouldn't damper expectations for Grand Theft Auto 6, however. While Rockstar has yet to make any announcements, a sequel with a single-player campaign is the one thing fans who don't want multiplayer can hopefully look forward to, even if it may be years away.

Grand Theft Auto Online is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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Source: GQ