Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Grand Theft Auto Online’s multiplayer mode, which shares a universe with GTA V, can’t complain about a lack of attention from players and developers alike, even more than a decade after its release. GTA Online is regularly enriched with new content, and thanks to this, it is still one of the most popular online games. My friends and I returned to the online world years later to check out how the game’s next-gen upgrade looks and works, but most importantly, to see if it’s still worth it today.
Returning to Los Santos After Years
Online has been with us for a while now, and I had a chance to go through this multiplayer mode a few years back. And despite its flaws, which put me off, I’ve returned to this phenomenon. However, I decided to leave my career as a video game criminal again for about five years. It wasn’t until the more recently released next-gen version that I was tempted to turn on GTA Online again. This made me curious to see how GTA Online had changed over the years and what pleasant (or even unpleasant) new features awaited me.
Career Builder: A Fresh Start
Among the positive new features is the so-called Career Builder, which defines the path your character will take in the criminal world right at the beginning of the game. You can build a criminal empire by smuggling contraband, making a fortune in the illegal arms trade, managing a city nightclub, or taking the lead in a motorcycle gang. For the record, Career Builder is only available in the next-gen version of the game.
After choosing one of the professions, you will receive a four million starting budget. Since I chose a career as an arms dealer, almost all of this in-game currency went toward buying and equipping a military bunker. I also treated myself to a practical bulletproof sports car. Unfortunately, you can’t take any of this money with you into the game, and you have to spend at least 3 million in Career Builder… and no wonder. If the developers let players into the game with a large amount of money, they would lose the meaning of the so-called Shark cards, which we’ll discuss later. There are specific missions associated with each profession; mine, for example, kept me busy transporting materials to a customer or acquiring supplies that you can buy or steal from local dealers. Let’s face it, the latter option will do less harm to your virtual wallet.
A Vibrant World of Opportunities
Career choices are a nice refresher for GTA Online and add structure to the overall gameplay experience. Instead of aimlessly running around the city, I was more motivated to take care of my business and gather the necessary resources for weapons production, for example, or research that can reward players with interesting upgrades. GTA Online, like the story part of GTA V, takes place in Los Santos and the neighboring Blaine County, and I can’t say anything bad about the game world here either. The developers took inspiration from the Los Angeles metropolis when creating Los Santos, so there is no shortage of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which in the world of GTA has been named Vinewood, more commonly known as Vespucci Beach.
On the other hand, Blaine County is an area of the vast desert and wooded regions where your customized car can be tested as can you. Your skills will be put to the test if you touch the property of the locals, who won’t hesitate to get into a fight with you. The typical GTA humor has been retained in the online part of the game.
Satirical Humor and Memorable Characters
The developers have no problem hitting the various classically known types of the population and, in fact, modern man in general, as evidenced by the already legendary satirical commercials and punchy catchphrases of the characters. Your character doesn’t carry any of these, which the creators have solved with humor in their own way. You will often hear remarks from your companions commenting on your dumbness. In GTA Online, you’ll meet characters from the story part of GTA V, for whom a good dub is a given.
Visuals and Performance: A Next-Gen Boost
The game world of GTA Online hasn’t aged significantly in terms of graphics, which are made even more attractive by the next-gen upgrade. In addition, you can choose from graphical modes that favor more detailed visuals in resolution mode or up to 60 fps in performance mode, along with the raytracing feature. The latter option makes GTA Online’s already smooth gameplay an even smoother affair. Moreover, the game looks gorgeous in this mode as well. Los Santos is definitely not just a backdrop, though. It functions as a sprawling HUB where you can engage in various activities between missions solo or with other players. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the ability to challenge opponents to a wrestling, tennis, or golf match, and there are dance clubs for the nighttime savages. People with a penchant for gambling should definitely not just pass by the casino or the arcades, and with hundreds of one-dollar bills, you can head to the strip bar.
Diverse Missions and Heists
Boredom is definitely not an option in Los Santos. But GTA Online really shines at the array of missions divided into different categories, where you’ll get to try out a wide range of weapons and vehicles. For example, you can go wheel-to-wheel with other players in an unconventional race, where your car transforms into a plane, motorbike, or amphibious quad bike several times, or you can fly through the air thanks to huge ramps. Of course, GTA Online also includes shooting-focused PvP modes. Here, players compete to complete a task faster or turn their guns on each other in classic Deathmatch or Capture the Flag matches. If you prefer the PvE modes, you won’t go away deprived either, and you can take on the role of a hired assassin or try to survive waves of growing enemies. GTA Online has many different modes, but you’ll find your king very quickly.
Heists: Complex and Rewarding Gameplay
Furthermore, the gameplay highlights of GTA Online include the so-called heists. This category is called Heists, i.e., different types of heists. These are profitable and, however, dangerous contracts in which especially well-coordinated teams of players have a high chance of success. Each such heist is preceded by preparation in the form of a series of shorter missions that culminate in a major spectacular event. Heists are much more challenging than regular missions and require a division of tasks within the team and specific tactics. Successfully completing them, however, can earn you a hefty sum of in-game currency. Aside from the tempting rewards, heists also offer elaborate gameplay, especially thanks to the various tasks assigned to each team member.
The High Cost of Virtual Living
After the preceding text, GTA Online is a near-flawless game; in fact, it is not. The biggest flaw is the developers’ attempt to get as much as possible from the players’ wallets at any cost. Heists, for example, require an initial investment of between $25,000 and $300,000 of in-game currency when they first launch, and some of them are also contingent on owning a specific building or piece of equipment. A perfect example is The Cayo Perico Heist, one of the most lucrative in the game. Still, to start it, you’ll need a Killer Whale submarine, which will cost you up to two million in in-game currency. The remote control car needed to run the special race with a purchase value of one million dollars will also come as a nasty surprise. In addition, boats, yachts, planes, and luxury sports cars jump out at you from the website. Even the prices of clothing have skyrocketed in GTA Online, and the earnings from some missions won’t even be enough to buy a complete outfit that you’ll want to build to your liking.
Community and Connectivity Issues
There’s definitely money to be spent in GTA Online. Still, if you don’t want to open a real wallet, you’ll just have to focus on completing missions that are profitable enough. With these insane prices, sooner or later, you’ll be faced with the choice of either buying one or more of the Shark Cards, which will send in-game currency into your virtual account for up to tens and tens of euros, or you’ll start picking up the better-paying missions, turning the GTA Online gaming experience into a relentless grind. You’ll likely end up just doing the big heists, which, while they’re some of the best in the game, become more of a chore than sincere fun for some players due to the quick payday.
This monetization, of course, also divides the GTA Online community. Indeed, the willingness or unwillingness of players to pay for more exclusive cars and weapons can significantly impact the overall gaming experience of those uncomfortable with spending real money in games. As a complete newbie trying to complete a specific mission right in the lobby, you’ll often be descended upon by, for example, the owners of an 8-million-dollar Oppressor Mk II hoverboard equipped with a plethora of accurate and deadly missiles. Any attempt to get from point A to point B or complete one career mission will fail. You will be forced to relocate to a private lobby, at least for the duration of the contract. Ideally, permanently, this will give you some peace of mind for your activities.
Final Thoughts and Rating
Before playing GTA Online, you should consider all the negatives I tried to point out in my review. In fact, putting pressure on players through overpriced items isn’t very good, nor are the server connectivity issues. The lack of crossplay can also put off many players, as can the hostile public servers. And the $20 price of the game itself? (Not to mention the PlayStation Plus subscription required to unlock online play). Given that the game tries to get players to buy in-game currency through expensive items, it may not seem fair to everyone.
On the other hand, for it, you get access to the game world, which still has a lot to offer. Oh, and perhaps needless to say, if you manage or have managed already to get the game for half the price or for free, it’s definitely worth playing. After all, the next-gen version has added more enticing visuals to the game, 60 fps support, and the ability to choose a criminal career for your character. The humor-filled game world feels fresh years after its release. It offers many activities and missions led by complex grand heists.
Conclusion
If you’re unwilling to pay or don’t have a friend who can help you with various tricks to earn much-needed in-game currency, you can’t avoid the grind in GTA Online. Count on a not-so-friendly community further divided by the lack of crossplay. GTA Online, however, cannot be denied the quality audiovisual aspect of its age and a unique game world brimming with diverse content. Especially if you have a group of friends like me and a private lobby, an exceptionally huge dose of quality entertainment is unavoidable.
About the Game
Title: Grand Theft Auto Online
Type of Game: Online Open-World Action-Adventure
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Where to Purchase GTA Online
- Steam (PC): Experience the expansive open world of GTA Online by purchasing it on Steam.
- Epic Games Store (PC): Dive into the crime-ridden streets of Los Santos by grabbing Grand Theft Auto Online from the Epic Games Store.
- Microsoft Store (Xbox): Play on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One by purchasing GTA Online from the Microsoft Store.
- PlayStation Store (PS5, PS4): Join the online chaos on PlayStation platforms by buying GTA Online through the PlayStation Store.
- Rockstar Games Launcher (PC): Download directly from Rockstar’s official Rockstar Games Launcher