Why is Grand Theft Auto 6 unlikely to incorporate cryptocurrencies?

Rumors suggesting that Grand Theft Auto 6 volition incorporated cryptocurrencies aboveground each erstwhile successful a while, fueling expectations that the highly awaited crippled whitethorn incorporated integer assets arsenic rewards for players, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) arsenic in-game goods, oregon adjacent arsenic portion of the storyline's humor.

The astir caller speculations successful the crypto assemblage emerged past week connected Twitter, but truthful far, there's nary denotation that Rockstar Games, steadfast of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, plans to leap into Web3. Cointelegraph looked astatine the latest rumors and facts astir the anticipation of an upcoming crypto GTA.

Play-to-Earn is nary longer seen arsenic an businesslike concern model

Play-to-earn (P2E) games let users to gain cryptocurrencies by playing games. The concern model, however, has been deemed arsenic unsustainable, contempt the excitement implicit blockchain-based games.

During the NFT.NYC successful April, crippled publishers and developers highlighted that the manufacture is exploring alternatives to regenerate the P2E concern exemplary amid the crypto prices downturn.

“It’s a exemplary that is not sustainable astatine all,” said Chase Freo, CEO of gaming level OP Games during a sheet astatine the event, giving the illustration of Axie Infinity’s displacement successful immoderate of its flagship titles.

During the sheet discussion, Paul Flanagan, the caput of concern improvement astatine CM Games, an Estonian mobile crippled developer, voiced his sentiment connected the halfway contented surrounding P2E models. He described them arsenic "zero-sum" and highlighted their resemblance to Ponzi schemes. Flanagan mentioned that portion branding sponsorship could perchance service arsenic a viable gross source, its effectiveness successful signifier remains to beryllium seen.

According to Statista, Grand Theft Auto 5 has sold implicit 180 cardinal units worldwide since 2015, making it 1 of the astir palmy crippled titles ever released. Based connected estimates connected the gross of Rockstar's genitor institution Take-Two Interactive, implicit $8 cardinal has been generated by the franchise implicit the past decade. Considering these figures, Grand Theft Auto has been a profitable rubric truthful far. Shifting to a P2E exemplary would beryllium a risky task for Rockstar.

Lifetime portion income generated by Grand Theft Auto 5 worldwide arsenic of May 2023. Source: Take-Two Interactive, Statista.

Rockstar's NFT ban

Last November, Rockstar updated its website to marque wide that fan-operated servers for Grand Theft Auto 5 could nary longer utilize crypto assets, specifically NFTs.

A fan-operated server allows modifications to a PC crippled and enactment betwixt players. As for Grand Theft Auto, immoderate servers implemented NFTs to springiness players ownership of in-game goods, specified arsenic cars and weapons. Rockstar's prohibition was a setback to fans hoping for NFTs successful the franchise.

Effective Immediately: pic.twitter.com/CxPIHLaytt

Lastly, the franchise is known for its humorous style. Many crypto enthusiasts judge that the adjacent Grand Theft Auto could see crypto elements successful its narrative, which would warrant the years of rumors astir the crippled taking a crypto approach. 

Cointelegraph reached retired to Rockstar regarding the rumors, but did not person an contiguous response. As of now, the institution has neither denied nor confirmed GTA6's crypto status. The rubric is expected to beryllium released successful 2024.

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