5 reasons why GTA Online should become free to play

Grand Theft Auto 5's multiplayer mode, GTA Online, is one of Rockstar Games' most successful releases ever. It comes free with every copy of the base game and has even been made available for standalone purchase on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. That being said, is it possible for the studio to make it completely free to play?

This seems pretty unlikely, given how well Grand Theft Auto 5 is doing in terms of sales even 11 years after launch. However, in this article, we list five reasons why GTA Online should become free to play (as in a free standalone title).

Note - Rockstar Games has not said anything about making Grand Theft Auto Online free to play. This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.

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Why GTA Online should become a free-to-play title

1) Will bring in a lot more players

As mentioned earlier, Grand Theft Auto 5's sales are still pretty good. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, revealed in November 2024 that GTA 5 had sold over 205 million copies, around five million units more from a few months earlier, and this is over a decade after its original release.

Although its story mode is remarkable, Grand Theft Auto Online has a lot to do with its continued popularity, thanks to free DLCs dropping periodically, such as December 2024's Agents of Sabotage update.

Now, if Rockstar makes the multiplayer free to play, one can only imagine the number of new players that it would attract, especially considering its availability on current and last-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, in addition to PCs.

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2) Could extend its longevity

Grand Theft Auto Online's official cover artwork (Image via Rockstar Games)

When GTA 6 comes out in Fall 2025, many players might leave Los Santos and Blaine County behind. However, some, such as those on PC, may not have access to the sequel at launch. Even if the game becomes available on their platform later, some fans might not have systems capable of running it smoothly.

These players might turn to Grand Theft Auto Online as an alternative. If GTA Online becomes free, it could attract a higher number of new players, potentially keeping the multiplayer community alive for years to come.

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3) Could motivate players to check out Grand Theft Auto 5 story mode

Grand Theft Auto 5 story mode protagonists (Image via Rockstar Games)

Despite the immense popularity of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, many people have never played a title from the series.

Making GTA Online free could serve as a good entry point for these newcomers. If they enjoy the mission structure, mechanics, and features, they might be encouraged to explore more, including the base game, Grand Theft Auto 5. This scenario would benefit Rockstar by boosting the sales of their 2013 title.

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4) Could similarly motivate players to check out Grand Theft Auto 6

Grand Theft Auto 6 is perhaps the most anticipated video game of all time. However, there might be individuals who are not particularly interested in it, especially those who have never played a game from the franchise before.

As previously mentioned, making Grand Theft Auto Online free to play could introduce these players to the series. If they like what Rockstar offers, they may not only want to check out what came before but also what's next.

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5) Free-to-play games also enjoy tremendous success

In today's world, free-to-play games are quite common and lucrative. Titles like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Call of Duty Warzone are excellent examples of this model, and Grand Theft Auto Online could easily join their ranks.

Rockstar could still generate revenue through Shark Card sales and GTA+ subscriptions, particularly after the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, when the sales figures for GTA 5 might not be as strong as they are today.

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Also check: 5 major improvements made in GTA Online in 2024