Reports suggest Rockstar Games is gearing up to turn GTA 6 into a major player in user-generated content (UGC), much like Roblox and Fortnite.
As per Digiday, Rockstar has been making moves to connect with top content creators from Roblox, Fortnite, and the GTA modding scene.
The discussions are about giving creators the chance to modify the game's assets and environment, perhaps including their own IP and brand deals. This could mean that GTA 6 is being designed not just as a game but as a platform where players create and sell their own content.
This became even more obvious after Rockstar acquired CFX.RE, the creators of GTA 5’s top RP mods. “It is my firm belief that the reason they purchased FiveM is exactly that—to spin up a metaversal universe of custom-built experiences," Pete Basgen, the global gaming and esports lead at WPP’s Wavemaker, said.
If that’s the case, Rockstar might be looking to capitalize on the massive demand for player-driven experiences, just like Fortnite’s Creative Mode. If it goes as planned, this could be a real breakthrough.
The constant flow of new experiences from user-generated content has kept games like Fortnite and Roblox relevant over the years. Rockstar could create a marketplace where players not only consume content but also actively build and profit from it.
Given the enormous player base of GTA, this could generate an entirely new economy within the game. The potential for high-quality content created by the community is exciting, and if Rockstar pulls off a fair revenue-sharing system, it could bring in some of the top creators in gaming.
But just because the potential is there doesn’t guarantee Rockstar will do it justice. Roblox has long struggled with moderation, allowing questionable content to slip through its systems.
GTA is already known for its mature themes, and giving players the power to create their own content could lead to a flood of inappropriate or exploitative material. Rockstar would need to be incredibly strict with its content guidelines, but even then, managing such a large influx of player-generated content could be an uphill battle.
GTA 5’s story mode was also left in the dust the moment GTA Online took off. Rockstar never bothered with single-player DLC because the online cash cow was too profitable. If GTA 6 goes even deeper into user-generated content, will we ever see another deep, engaging GTA story? I’d rather have a well-crafted, expansive narrative experience than endless servers filled with brand collaborations and cash-grab game modes.
If the rumors are right, money could very well be behind it. Rockstar stands to make an absurd amount of cash if GTA 6 becomes a UGC platform where both Rockstar and creators take a cut of microtransactions.
There’s a fine line between enabling creativity and exploiting the game for profit. If every interesting experience is locked behind a paywall, the game could become frustratingly commercialized. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rockstar made a GTA+ subscription to access these features.
Change is good, but it needs to be for the better. Rockstar has a chance to do this right, and if they do, it could change everything in gaming.