Grand Theft Auto (GTA) V is one of the most successful video games ever made, with Rockstar Games breaking seven Guinness World Records when the game launched. GTA V is one of the best-selling and highest-grossing entertainment products ever made, but what is it that keeps the game alive almost a decade since its release? Its online component GTA Online has been thriving and shows no signs of slowing down.
The Co-op experience is Unputdownable
Beyond its various game modes and roleplaying experience, the co-op experience shines through regarding GTA Online. If you are looking for a game to play with your friends, very few titles in the industry can compete with what GTA Online has to offer.
From Bomberman to Gun Game, the community has helped create countless custom game modes over the years. The community is actively involved in creating some of the most fun experiences you can imagine, and the game's social features are also great if you want to find friends to play with.
GTA Online's RP servers Have Breathed New Life into The Game
Twitch and other online streaming services have contributed directly to the growth of GTA Online in recent years. Streamers and content creators have their servers, and plenty of online content is available based on the game. At the time of writing, GTA V is the most viewed game on Twitch and the second-most viewed category right after 'Just Chatting.'
Anyone can join a roleplay (RP) server and have fun. Deep character customization is available, and you can easily find other players to play with. How the RP servers work is you get to choose a job, and then you must abide by certain rules (or break them). If you are feeling adventurous, you could try getting into illegal activities in-game and pull off heists with other players.
RP servers also host in-game events, which is arguably the biggest attraction. You can be a part of concerts where players showcase their skills or participate in comedy shows. Even if you are not willing to hop on stage and showcase
GTA Online is The Bridge to GTA VI
While story expansions leading up to GTA VI would be a welcome move to many, Rockstar Games decided to add story content through GTA Online instead. It is a shocker to many, but GTA Online gets solid story expansions, and we recently got a San Andreas story expansion.
San Andreas Mercenaries launched in June, where players worked together to fight Merryweather Security. We received consistent updates over the years, and if you gave up on GTA V after completing the story, we recommend giving the game another shot and catching up with all of the story content.
The Criminal Enterprises update is my favorite, possibly the biggest content update the game has ever recipe. There were new missions and gameplay changes introduced to the game. Quality-of-life updates keep coming in; you can experience all the content without paying separately for DLCs.
The game's online component is monetized via Shark Cards, which allows you to get tons of in-game cash in exchange for real money but safely avoid the microtransactions without spending anything. All the story content added over the past decade is yours to experience for the same price you bought GTA V.
GTA 6 will inevitably arrive, and I don't think Rockstar will do anything differently regarding its live-service format. We will get a complete single-player experience in the base game, but the expansions will likely come through its iteration of GTA Online.
While GTA Online can be daunting to get into, there is something for everyone, and if you are tired of grindy MMORPGs or looter shooters and want a live-service game that's relaxing, GTA Online might be able to offer you that. With ten years of updates behind it and over 50 hours of single-player content in the base game itself, it's hard to beat the $14.99 asking price that it goes for during sales. You might be able to pick up a used copy of the game on a console for even cheaper, and many grabbed the game for free during one of Epic Games' giveaways, so if you have not given it a shot yet, now might be the time.
Reasons NOT to play GTA V in 2023
Hopping into GTA V is a pleasant experience, but things get complicated if you don't have other people to play with. The new player experience can be a little complex, and with so many community-run servers, game modes, and whatnot, navigating through the game's systems can be daunting.
Another problem that Rockstar Games has not been able to control is the number of cheaters in the game. Cheaters plague online gaming, and because even Fall Guys suffered from a cheater problem, no game is safe.
Thankfully some of the community servers have been able to keep cheaters in check and enforce active moderation. If you have people to play with, we recommend trying the game.
There are also microtransactions involved, but you can farm the in-game currency by playing, and if you have friends to play with, getting a lot of in-game currency is not that big of a deal. You also have custom servers where you can take up in-game jobs to get some much-needed cash.
Should You Try GTA Online in 2023
Absolutely! It might not be a game for everyone, but if you enjoy the social aspects of GTA Online and don't mind getting a couple of your friends or finding strangers to play with, it can be a pleasant experience.
Rockstar Games actively supports the game, adding quality-of-life improvements, new heists, story updates, and more. If you are not a fan of GTA games, it is unlikely that you will feel any different about GTA Online. But if you have played GTA V or previous GTA titles and never tried out the game's online component, you should try it.
