Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has been hailed as one of the best video game series ever released. When the online element came out in 2013, it became an instant classic with adrenaline-inducing action, immense detail, and remarkable freedom. In 2022, it sees roughly 2.5 million players every month on Steam — which makes up only a fraction of GTA Online’s player base.
The single-player counterpart, GTA V, also continues to sell, recently surpassing an astounding 170 million copies in sales. All this cements GTA’s legacy as one of the best-selling video games.
It has also spurred its company, Rockstar Games, to develop the game’s next installment, an as-yet-untitled GTA 6.
With such unmatched success, it’s easy to wonder what it is about GTA Online that has cemented it as an all-time fan favorite even after almost a decade. Here’s why GTA Online is still so popular today.
Evolving storylines GTA Online
The game allows players to roam expansively, following an intricate story premise. GTA Online takes place several months after the story of GTA V in Los Santos, a Southern California-like city. Players get to act as a protagonist looking for new pursuits, both criminal and engaging. One major component that keeps players engaged are the constant content updates, like the Doomsday Heist and The Cayo Perico Heist. They introduce new storylines, expanding the world’s lore and offering extra rewards.
The Cayo Perico Heist, in particular, takes players to a new location entirely separate from San Andreas itself. Even with new Caribbean-like sights, it complements the game’s atmosphere and heightens the excitement factor of GTA Online. Downloadable content like this ensures that the game never stagnates and always offers something fresh.
Diamond Casino and Resort GTA Online
The Diamond Casino and Resort was a new addition to the map, different from GTA’s single-player campaign, and it’s a key driver behind the game’s longevity. It’s become a hub for players, with prizes offered daily to keep users returning. You can play casino games like blackjack and slots, buy special items, and trade playing card collectibles.
There is a range of casino games where you can earn in-game currency. You can play 3-card poker, one of the most popular card-table games in casinos worldwide.
The rules differ slightly from Texas Hold’em since a straight hand ranks higher than flush, pair, and high card here. If you’re dealt a straight hand, it’s ideal to up your ante. Whatever you win in poker games can be used to buy property and items in the game, and the same applies to roulette and other games in the casino. This lends purpose to fun in-game features and enhances GTA Online‘s replay value even further.
Robust community engagement
No game lasts long without a community to hold it up, explore it, and share excitement over it. This is particularly true for the GTA fanbase, which has been instrumental in helping GTA Online last as long as it has. It is one of the most streamed games on Twitch, amassing 2.1 billion hours of total watch time on the site.
GTA shares an equally-devoted user base and boasts numerous sub-communities — each of which has millions of players. Different parts of the GTA Online community have different play styles, leading to many new ideas for the developers to try. As such, community engagement ensures that there is always diversity in gameplay possibilities.
GTA Online has been out for almost a decade now. Even today, players have not run out of possibilities with the game. The game’s evolving storylines, in-game features, and strong community show just how endless the game can be.