rockstar hasn't said a word about gta 6 online, so how do they sell it?

Rockstar's been weirdly quiet about the online component for GTA6. We know an online version is coming sometime next year, but they haven't said a single word about how they're going to sell it. I've been thinking about the options.

• Free update inside GTA6. This would be the smoothest move honestly. You buy the game, online just shows up in a menu after launch. Like they did with GTA5's online but without the separate install. Keeps everyone in one ecosystem.
• Paid expansion or DLC. Pay extra to unlock the online mode. Could work if it's a substantial thing, but Rockstar hasn't done that before with online. Would probably piss off a lot of people who already dropped $80 on the base game.
• Separate free to play GTA Online. This is interesting because it lets them milk shark cards from a huge free playerbase without requiring the single player purchase. But then you have two separate communities and updates get split.
• Separate paid game. Basically GTA Online 2 as its own $40 or $50 title. This would maximize revenue but it feels like a slap in the face after paying full price for the story mode.

My gut says they go with option 1, a free update within GTA6. Rockstar's whole thing has been keeping GTA Online alive for years with constant content drops. Splitting it off as a separate purchase or free to play game would fracture the player base and make it harder to sell shark cards to everyone. They want the install base from GTA6's single player to flow directly into online without friction. I also think they'll keep it free because the real money comes from microtransactions, not the upfront cost. They learned that with GTA5. No way they risk a barrier to entry.

I'd be shocked if they charge for it as DLC or a separate game. The free to play angle is the only other one that makes sense long term, but I think they'd rather keep the premium players locked in from day one. That's my take. Rockstar will do whatever makes the most money and right now that's a free update with a heavy push on shark cards from the jump.

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Source: r/GTA6 · Curated content.