GTA Online has been a massive hit, playing a huge role in keeping GTA 5 popular even years after its release.

Rockstar has been adding new content to this multiplayer mode for over a decade, making it available as a standalone game. Players now have access to a wide variety of missions, races, and criminal activities.

But keeping GTA Online fresh for so long has required a lot of resources from Rockstar, raising the bar for any online mode in the upcoming GTA 6.

While the launch of GTA 6 is highly anticipated, the original GTA Online still has a large and active community that needs attention.

Rockstar now faces a big decision: should they create a brand-new online mode for GTA 6, or try to keep both games running?

GTA Online’s Success Poses a Challenge for GTA 6

GTA Online has changed what players expect from multiplayer in the GTA series. It’s a big improvement over past online modes, allowing players to climb the ranks of the criminal world in Los Santos with exciting stories and the usual chaotic fun.

GTA 5 has become the highest-grossing entertainment product ever, bringing in nearly $8 billion, largely thanks to GTA Online.

For example, in 2022 alone, GTA Online made $500 million, almost a decade after GTA 5 was first released, showing an incredible level of ongoing success that’s rare in the entertainment industry.

The financial success of GTA Online is driven by the high demand for in-game currency and the launch of the GTA+ subscription service in 2022.

This has become a goldmine for Rockstar, with no signs of slowing down. The roleplaying community in GTA Online has also grown rapidly in recent years, thanks to content creators on platforms like Twitch. But with GTA 6 on the horizon, Rockstar has some tough decisions to make.

What GTA 6’s Multiplayer Means for Rockstar

Just as GTA 6 is expected to push the limits of single-player gameplay, there’s also hope that the new game will improve the online experience.

While creating a new multiplayer mode for GTA 6 would be exciting, it could be difficult for Rockstar to keep supporting the original GTA Online at the same time.

A lot of Rockstar’s resources are dedicated to maintaining GTA Online for its millions of players. It may not be realistic to continue this once GTA 6 is out.

Rockstar might consider merging GTA Online with GTA 6’s multiplayer, but this could leave behind players who can’t switch to the new game.

While the excitement for GTA 6 is huge, and it’s expected to take over the gaming world when it releases next year, Rockstar has some tough choices to make about the future of GTA Online and its large player base.