so what caused GTA Online to be such a huge success right now

[SuperJude™]

Interesting.

 

Just had this discussion with my brother yesterday. He's a complete n00b to Online, started playing 2+ years after the game came out.

 

For old timers, I think it's a matter of the game having enough updates to keep things fresh. Even on last gen consoles they had added a huge amount of content before they discontinued the upgrades. Lobbies remain active.

 

For new players, this game has so much variety. Every moment in Free Mode is new because you're playing live with other players. Or, you can repeat missions and Heists, satiate the urge to perfect some aspect of gameplay.

 

Variety is the spice of life.

[Rafae]

Rockstar's impeccable taste for quality. Simple.

[Giantsgiants]

I'm going to go with the majority of replies and say it's the variety of different activities you can do. The openness of this game is on another level. I have Need For Speed which too is

 

"So if GTA Online is so successful, why don't other game developers do what Rockstar is doing?"

 

Well, first of all the Grand Theft Auto franchise practically rules the sandbox genre. Trying to get your game to compete and get noticed is going to be quite the challenge. Secondly, developing such an epic open world game is not easy. Rockstar really put the time and money into making sure each update was top-quality. Just because your game is open world with tons of different things to do doesn't mean it won't suck.

 

Case in point, look at Need For Speed with its open world multiplayer and free updates. The Need For Speed franchise has been on the decline. EA gives free DLC (which people probably never expected to happen in a million years). That can't be a coincidence. Well, compare that game with GTA Online. Not much of a contest, right?

 

 

Edited March 7, 2016 by Giantsgiants

[CarnageRacing00]

Because when played with the right people, it's a f*cking great time and always presents something new.

 

Creator mode has a lot to do with that.

[Dondara]

There is nothing like it. It offers goals of all types. Money, kills, rank whatever. If you can't find something you like, then you just don't want to. While not perfect, it is the best.

 

I said if I ever got to level 1000, it would time to move on. No, that is not the case as 1000 seems possible now. I will leave GTAO when the next one is on the shelves.

[ride_the_spiral]

It's fun