Grand Theft Auto Online can be criticized for a fair amount of reasons, but there is also a lot of incentive to get back into the game, especially in recent days. As Rockstar's most meticulously updated property, it seems to almost always have something to offer to players. Even those who are not fans of the series have to admit that it has a lot going for it.
Grand Theft Auto Online was launched shortly after Grand Theft Auto 5's release, representing the series' first foray into a dedicated multiplayer title. Online has proven to be a major success, bring one of Rockstar's biggest games, and the company has taken note of that. GTA Online has been updated on a regular basis, with new cars, missions, and other features being added to expand the game further. If GTA 6 has its own GTA Online, this pattern would likely continue. This deluge of content, letting GTA Online grow larger than most games ever could, may be the game's biggest strength.
GTA Online Seems To Never Stop Growing
Someone who played Grand Theft Auto Online at release before stepping away would find a massive amount of new content upon returning. The new additions such as criminal ventures and a litany of added storylines have made it bigger than most games on the market, and it only keeps expanding. This continual drip of updates has done more than anything to keep GTA Online relevant, even with the highly recognizable franchise name taken into account. The upcoming addition of the Los Santos Drug Wars update for GTA Online will only be the newest content drop to keep players coming in.
Another thing working for GTA Online, oddly enough, could be the shutdown of Red Dead Online. RDO's playerbase was left without a game to call their own after it reached its end of service, and that could turn out well for GTA Online. As another multiplayer crime-themed sandbox created by Rockstar, it seems like the most logical choice for disaffected RDO players to migrate to. It would take some getting used to because of the different mechanics between the games, but they will have plenty to do in the meantime. GTA's development hurting Red Dead Online's updates may be a sore spot for some, but that's not likely to hurt GTA Online overall.
GTA Online's last advantage, odd as it may sound, is its popularity. Grand Theft Auto Online is one of the most popular games in the world at present, as its player numbers can attest. Its popular brand and frequent updates keep it in the public eye, thanks to both gaming news outlets and content creators. If prospective players keep hearing about GTA Online, they will be interested enough to seek it out and try it for themselves. This will keep the game's playerbase growing with the help of Grand Theft Auto Online's December update, which many are likely already aware of.
Grand Theft Auto Online is a game that seems to always be in the news, to the point that one can get tired of hearing about it. However, its perks are difficult to ignore, and barring some unforeseen disaster, it is unlikely to stop growing anytime soon. Although a player may not want to admit it, it would be no surprise to get drawn into playing Grand Theft Auto Online.