The cinematic slate has been loaded with so-far overhyped blockbusters and must-see pictures, but the true headline act in entertainment this year is Grand Theft Auto VI.
GTA V obliterated entertainment product earning records, appealing to both single-player gamers and those who want to commit to the vast multiplayer mode.
While GTA VI is expected to sell very well in its core form – despite it not coming with a physical disc for the game, it is selling a physical vinyl – everyone knows it’s GTA VI Online that will generate the most revenue. Microtransactions and multiplayer engagement still drive the highest end of revenues in the industry.
So, what should we expect from its inevitable and eventual launch? When will it land, will players get to transfer their hard-earned digital goods from GTA V Online, and what state will it launch in?
GTA VI Online’s Arrival
GTA VI has gone well beyond being a game for gamers. As is the case once Wall Street realises the popularity of something, it’s now very much investors’ business. According to Bank of America and Bloomberg, GTA VI is expected to hit in Q1 of 2027 – by the end of March next year. The Twitch CEO has also cited a 2027 launch.
The big question for players is if anything will transfer over from GTA V Online. The game mode made billions from in-game purchases, meaning that plenty of people have paid a lot of money in a game that will eventually be closed down – unless GTA VI expands on its predecessor, which is not expected to be the case.
A fresh slate is what most are forecasting. Even so, it wouldn’t be harmful to their bottom line to offer a boost to loyal players.
Most entertainment platforms offer a welcome bonus of some kind. It’s something we’ve seen with movie streaming platforms for quite some time, especially with the likes of Apple TV and Netflix competing to encourage free trials.
There are also the extras given out by online gaming platforms in the form of a slot bonus. Boosts like these give £20 on many of the King Kong Cash and Fishin’ Frenzy series to new users, and from there, promotions will become available to loyal players regularly.
GTA VI Online won’t need to worry much about encouraging people to go from its premium single-player game to the online mode.
Even so, game companies making goodwill gestures these days is rare. Were the new mode to enable a transfer or a bonus based on participation in GTA V Online, they’d win over many more players at minimal cost.
Features in GTA VI Online
It’s easy to forget that the launch of GTA V Online wasn’t exactly smooth. Constant crashes and minimal extra content – such as missions and modes to explore – meant that the few who could get in for prolonged spells didn’t find much new to do aside from playing the original game in multiplayer.
It took a year for online heists – by far the most anticipated element of the online mode – to launch. As a core part of the single-player experience, this is what the players wanted the most. After it landed, player numbers spiked. They’d do so again years later with the release of the casino and its missions.
With the additional time to launch the online mode, Rockstar needs to hone in on exactly what the big appeal of the base game is and work it into the multiplayer mode at launch.
Of course, it won’t be complete at launch, as the playbook that made billions last time dictates that the player base is accustomed to a slow feed for new additions.
Ultimately, GTA VI is going to be a huge seller over the first couple of months of its launch, and the online mode will generate stacks of cash, too. The big question is if they’ll have the server capacity to meet demand when it launches.