As Rockstar Games prepares for the release of GTA 6 later this year, the iconic game series is set to evolve beyond its role as a video game.
GTA 6 will not only be a monumental release in the gaming world but also represent Rockstar’s bold attempt to transform the franchise into a creator platform for the metaverse.
GTA 6: The Future of the Metaverse
According to industry insiders, Rockstar has been in discussions with top Roblox and Fortnite creators, as well as popular GTA content creators, about the potential for integrating custom experiences within the upcoming game.
These experiences would enable creators to modify GTA 6’s virtual environment and assets, allowing them to bring their own intellectual property (IP) and possibly even brand sponsors into the GTA universe.
Although the specifics of these collaborations are still under wraps, these discussions hint at Rockstar’s intent to broaden the scope of GTA 6 beyond traditional gaming.
Creators would likely be able to bring their audiences into the game, benefiting from exposure within one of the world’s most popular gaming franchises.
Insights from the ‘GTA 5’ Ecosystem
Looking at the creator ecosystem in GTA 5, it’s clear that Rockstar is positioning GTA 6 as a hub for user-generated content (UGC). Despite GTA 5‘s release 14 years ago, it continues to be a top contender on platforms like Twitch, thanks in part to the thriving FiveM community.
FiveM is a game modification that allows users to host and join multiplayer servers, creating virtual worlds where hundreds of players interact simultaneously.
While Rockstar initially banned some FiveM creators in 2015, the company later acquired FiveM’s creators in 2023, signaling a shift in its stance towards the GTA roleplay (RP) community.
The acquisition suggests that Rockstar is now embracing the concept of user-generated content, further hinting at the future of GTA 6 as a platform for creators.
The Metaversal Future
Pete Basgen, global gaming and esports lead for WPP agency Wavemaker, believes that Rockstar’s acquisition of FiveM was a key move in their strategy to build a metaversal universe within the GTA franchise.
With GTA 6, Rockstar could offer a space for creators to introduce custom-built experiences and UGC items, potentially giving birth to a new creator economy within the GTA universe.
“It is my firm belief that the reason they purchased FiveM is to spin up a metaversal universe of custom-built experiences, and potentially UGC items, with an attached UGC creator economy,” Basgen stated.
This approach could appeal to the growing market of creators who have already found success in platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, potentially positioning GTA 6 as the next major destination for creators looking to build virtual worlds.
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