Well, I already know what most of you are thinking. You're either rolling your eyes or pursing your lips at a potentially inane opinion regarding last year's most anticipated title's online component. I must confess, despite the headline, I still play Grand Theft Auto Online regularly, but more often than not, I find myself yawning after about half an hour.
Grand Theft Auto Online simply isn't fun anymore. When it was originally revealed, it looked like the most spectacular of creations; a living, breathing open world environment to experience with your friends and complete strangers. Essentially, Grand Theft Auto V with your own personal character and that of your comrades. Even upon launch, I found it to be absolutely tantalising; it was a simply wonderful experience. However, once the smoke began to clear, I kind of sat there scratching my head wondering what exactly in the name of Christ happened.
Originally, I expected Grand Theft Auto Online to have some sort of story to it, with the opening cutscene and theme of the experience. I expected a narrative about the protagonist - your online character - being convinced by Lamar Davis to move to Los Santos from God-knows-where and make a name for themselves in the criminal underworld. You know, start off as a petty gangbanger robbing stores and "making bread," as it were, and rising through the ranks; being offered higher stakes through more dangerous employers like Martin Madrazo and Merryweather Security. Instead, it's simply an open-world free-for-all with themed 'missions' and an overdose of repetition.
Making money in the game is just as hard as a person's nipples in the Arctic tundra and in lieu of this, you almost don't want to spend it...or do anything for that matter, considering every time you're killed, you lose the money you'd spent countless hours trying to earn. Getting yourself wasted in the game is almost a slap in the face with a remark such as, "Learn to be better skilled and not get killed." With that being said, one has to be properly funded to simply fool around. Say you just want to go out and be reckless; you'll spend tens of thousands of dollars on ammunition, hundreds in hospital bills when you're killed, etc. Want to participate in a race? Be prepared to pay a car rental fee. Want to face off in a deathmatch? Be prepared to pay hospital bills every time you die. I'm surprised you aren't charged to walk down a street or get into a car. You'll almost want to just hide in your exorbitantly priced apartment just to avoid losing money. But even apartments are a bill in themselves; daily cleaning costs and maintenance fees are paid for an apartment that doesn't get dirty or have items that malfunction that need maintaining. You'll have to pay your mechanic, even if he doesn't do anything all day.
What I take into offense the most is that you're unable to play with other people without having to either run for dear life or fight to survive. "Minding your own business" does not exist in Grand Theft Auto Online; you'll be shot at, blown up and harassed by other players for merely existing. 'Griefers' will come after you for no understandable reason and destroy the vehicle(s) you spent thousands of dollars on, kill you when you're trying to shop (and forgot to enable Passive Mode) or even when you're simply sightseeing and exploring.
Grand Theft Auto Online has become a chore in my eyes and I honestly think I work harder to earn money in that game than I do at my real-world job. It's a scary thought, that.
But of course, for every complaint, there is a rebuttal. Annoyed that you can't do anything without being killed? Join a private/invite-only session. We shouldn't have to; let us drive around and explore without wondering if the person on the next block will come round and throw a grenade. Not enough money to buy the things you want in the game? Use your hard-earned real world money and take advantage of the microtransactions and purchase cash cards. I don't want to trade a real $30 for a fake $30,000 deposit into my virtual bank account. Bored with GTA Online? Play something else. But I don't want to; Grand Theft Auto Online was originally fun, but now it's become taxiing. It's missing something...but I just can't put my finger on it. Well, aside from the obvious required fixes. Maybe the 'upcoming' heist add-on will revitalise the game. Maybe not. Only time will tell, I'm afraid.
In the meantime, I think I'll just have to dig into my imagination and discover a newfound entertainment within the online experience.
Tom Lee, Creative Director, Team Ninja: "We’re excited to announce that The Two Masters DLC for Ninja Gaiden 4 will be released to ninjas of all skill levels on March 4, 2026! This story-driven expansion continues Yakumo and Ryu’s battle against fiends that once again threaten to take over the world. After completing the main story, players will unlock new story chapters that push both characters into battles against even deadlier enemies, challenging bosses, and new trials that will test the skills of even the most seasoned master ninja."
Kotaku writes: "A Resident Evil Requiem review published by long-standing UK gaming news site Videogamer has been removed from Metacritic after readers pointed out it was written by a fake AI journalist who doesn’t actually exist. Videogamer‘s human masthead was gutted last week, sources tell Kotaku, and the site has been publishing apparent genAI slop ever since."
Genuinely well done on metacritic for taking such an immediate hard stance. Not often, if at all, you see that these days. Credit where it’s due.
New York attorney general Letitia James called loot boxes 'quintessential gambling.'
Heists will be repetitive... That is my suspicion that is most likely will be true, and if it gets too much money by repeating, the payout will be decreased. Excuse my negativity but I have a good feeling that this is going to be a fact.
Also you can't change the players so this ruined GTA Online for me and giving my copy to my friend which he "hopefully" enjoys playing. It had a big potential but it is ruined in my opinion.
Was it ever? It was broken from inception. The character you created looked like sloth from The Goonies no matter what you did. Then people lost money- some got it back and some didn't. This isn't necessarily a let down for me but it seems a lot of people were expecting something different from the community as a whole. Many people thought they'd be walking around with their crews in some pseudo Micheal Mann world a la Heat/Collateral. Meticulously planning heists and a little parley here and there over respecting ones turf. Instead online is more like the LA Riots nonstop or black Friday at you local box top store. At least the whole experience is free.
It is boring unless you are stoned out of your mind doing random things. There needs to be more goals you need to accomplish and more depth rather than just buying an apartment. I have always though that a drug buying/selling system would be amazing online, such as the one in chinatown wars.
I am hoping they will build on this experience and create something truly magical for next gen but with these micro transactions everywhere that future looks frustrating.
It was boring from Day 1. And never changed for the better. Single player is boring as well
I haven't had fun with a GTA game since San Andreas. That was 10 years ago This series is so overrated.