In a recent update, Rockstar has firmly stated its policy on RP servers in GTA Online. Still immensely popular in 2022, GTA Online originally released alongside GTA V in 2013, and has since seen a bevvy of updates and new additions. Increasingly popular among the game's player base are RP servers, which allow fans to roleplay as different characters alongside other players in the same server. While the popularity of GTA Online RP servers has grown, Rockstar's official stance on them has been somewhat unclear.In an update to its mod policy, Rockstar Support has officially supported the existence of RP servers, saying that they are "an extension of community created experiences within Grand Theft Auto that we hope will continue to thrive." With GTA 6 upcoming, GTA Online's future is uncertain, but Rockstar's support for RP servers may serve as a source of relief for players. However, the update also notes that Rockstar's singe-player mod policy remains in place - meaning that mods for multiplayer and online, which many of GTA Online's RP servers make use of, may still come under fire.
Rockstar's New Mod Policy Update Offers Support for RP Servers
Another potential concern for RP servers in GTA Online may come from Rockstar's stance regarding "commercial exploitation," which gives specific mention to "the sale of virtual currency" and "generating revenue via corporate sponsorship or in-game integration." With many of GTA Online's most popular RP servers being funded in large part by player donations, there may be some room for concern over what exactly is allowed under Rockstar's policy. While Rockstar's announcement claims support for RP servers, some may still wish to remain cautious.
The announcement, while likely welcome news for many players, doesn't change the fact that the relationship between Rockstar and GTA Online players has often been strained, owing to incidents such as GTA Online's subscription service sparking a boycott. Additionally, Rockstar has been known in the past to issue DMCA takedowns to many fan projects, and some fans have also taken issue with Rockstar's seemingly excessive monetization of the game. With the updated policy, however, players can likely remain hopeful for continued support towards RP servers.
While GTA Online still has plenty to offer for non-roleplayers, RP servers have certainly grown to be one of the game's most popular features, garnering huge audiences of players and even watchers on platforms like Twitch. For a game that's been live since 2013, many players would likely attribute much of the game's current popularity to RP servers, as opposed to new updates such as GTA Online's expansion of Cayo Perico. While Rockstar and Take-Two still reserve the right to issue takedowns, GTA Online's RP servers are a robust community effort that may be best left to thrive alone.
Source: Rockstar Support, Rockstar Support/Twitter