What if GTA 6 never ends? How a Fortnite-style ecosystem could change everything

Time of India

4 days ago

Source: Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games could be working on something much more ambitious than merely another sequel with GTA 6. Based on far-reaching speculation and insider rumors, GTA 6 could adopt a live-service model like Fortnite, with the game constantly evolving rather than getting a conventional follow-up.
This could redefine how gamers experience the Grand Theft Auto franchise, maybe permanently.
GTA 6 can be Rockstar's forever game
Leaks and developer teasers indicate that GTA 6 could turn into a regularly updated platform instead of a game with a clear-cut ending. Similar to Fortnite, the concept is to build an in-game universe where fresh narratives, cities, and events are added on top of a single game world over time. This
"one game, infinite updates"
approach would enable Rockstar to add content without releasing a brand-new title like GTA 7.
This might translate to the players experiencing seasonal content updates, time-sensitive missions, dynamic map shifts, and character developments that change month after month or year after year. The core city, alleged to be a contemporary Vice City, may be the center, and other areas and timelines be supplemented through live events or DLCs. Rockstar's shift towards persistent online worlds, as evidenced through GTA Online, aligns with the notion that GTA 6 is going to be more of a long-term platform than a single SKU release.
How a live-service model might transform GTA
A Fortnite-style model would fundamentally change player involvement. On the one hand, players would be able to have continuous fresh content, changing storylines, and endless updates that refresh the game perpetually. Rockstar would also be able to implement real-time global events, crossovers with other IPs, and even seasonal mini-games or story packs, without ever releasing a new game.
But at a cost. The live-service model might result in monetization fatigue, with battle passes and character purchases dominating the headlines. Fans of traditional single-player experiences will feel disenfranchised if narrative material becomes drip-fed or bound to online patching. And without a proper
"ending,"
the game will lack the succinct narrative beats that made previous games great.
If Rockstar makes GTA 6 a forever game, it may be the most radical change in the series' history. While it allows for infinite content and changing gameplay, it also threatens to move too far from what made Grand Theft Auto a single-player staple. Only time will let us know if this risk pays off.
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Top 5 gameplay changes we could see if weight mechanics return in GTA 6