Singleplayer, DLC and the future of Rockstar Studios

[InsertWittyPun]

Would love some opinions on this.

 

We have seen Rockstar go from individual studios working on individual titles to now Rockstar Studios working toward the next project as a whole company. I've always been a fan of Rockstar and the Grand Theft Auto series. I love the singleplayer stories they tell and the characters woven into the world's created. The tailored worlds that feel so vibrant compared to the often dulled and sometimes barren sensation of the Online game modes.

 

How long do you think it will be post launch for a new singleplayer narrative or even post launch singleplayer content? Another 10 years? No DLC anymore? Only Online focused post launch content?

 

I'd like to think with acquisitions like Cfx.re, and with other smaller studios that they would go back to having single studios working on projects or freeing up other studios to work on more than just the Online component.

[SickteddyPT]

Like the Single Player DLC that they announce before GTA V release and until now no one saw it..

Edited October 20, 2023 by SickteddyPT

[InsertWittyPun]

5 minutes ago, SickteddyPT said:

Like the Single Player DLC that they announce before GTA V release and until now no one saw it..

That was cannibalised and repurposed as GTA Online content?

 

Yeah, that doesn't instill confidence.

 

My only hope is that with the changing of Rockstar that they understand there is a demand for more singleplayer stories and would be profitable. I mean EfLC was phenomenal, it got me back into gaming and I loved the stories more than IV's original (Mind you, IV's main campaign is fantastic, just as a kid I was drawn to the mission design of TBoGT).

[cant remember]

There has been quite a few singleplayer AAA succcesses lately so hopefully R* knows that briefcase is in high demand.

[Totallycasual]

I wish that we could get some single player DLC, but i don't have high hopes.  It pisses me off that people keep pointing to the lacklustre success of GTA4's single player DLC, but they ignore the fact that it was hobbled from the very beginning.  If DLC was well made, executed and available on all platforms (especially with the ease of digital distribution these days), i don't see how it could fail. 

[VercettiGuy]

Whether a DLC should happen or not depends on the story itself IMO.

 

I never really cared for V's story, so I personally never cared for SP DLC. I was spending most of my time in GTAO anyways, so I was glad they constantly updated that instead.

 

If I fall in love with VI's story and connected to its characters, which I could imagine very well, I'd love to continue their story.

[InsertWittyPun]

52 minutes ago, cant remember said:

There has been quite a few singleplayer AAA succcesses lately so hopefully R* knows that briefcase is in high demand.

My hopes exactly. With the success of RDR 2's main story I really hope at the least Rockstar knows that fans want that personalised experience. 

 

Of course would love Singleplayer DLC, but I completely understand if Rockstar want to tailor the story and experience per title as well.

 

Just frustrates me that the experience is completely different in the Online mode; to me Online (Especially V's Online) always felt cobbled together and sacrificing singleplayer features for more players and online stability. I respect it, and have made fun memories with the Online mode, but it has always felt second to the actual experience that was crafted by Rockstar.

 

47 minutes ago, Totallycasual said:

I wish that we could get some single player DLC, but i don't have high hopes.  It pisses me off that people keep pointing to the lacklustre success of GTA4's single player DLC, but they ignore the fact that it was hobbled from the very beginning.  If DLC was well made, executed and available on all platforms (especially with the ease of digital distribution these days), i don't see how it could fail. 

 

Whilst I enjoyed the story of IV and its DLC, I have to agree with you. IV had a very niche audience compared to V. Most of GTA V's audience is either new or prior fans of the SD Universe. My hope is with RDR 2's success and an internal shift in storytelling we'll get gritty stories, but I also hope more chances to flesh out the story like the concept of EfLC. 

 

I can also see that the prevalence of online stores, it will allow for added accessibility to DLC. Being able to update the core title and have the DLC accessible to the main title may very well lure fans to buy smaller contained stories. That and I think Rockstars marketing has greatly improved compared to the mid to late 2000's.

Edited October 20, 2023 by InsertWittyPun

[Totallycasual]

4 minutes ago, InsertWittyPun said:

I can also see that the prevalence of online stores, it will allow for added accessibility to DLC. Being able to update the core title and have the DLC accessible to the main title may very well lure fans to buy smaller contained stories.

 

I won't even start on how much it pisses me off that the single player DLC was cannibalized for GTA Online, but what i will say is that if they made a bunch of GTAO specific stuff available as single player DLC, i would have gladly paid for it, i think the so called "Expanded and Enhanced" version of V was the perfect opportunity to allow the casino to open and some of the other GTAO stuff to make its way into the single player game.  With an install base the size of V's, i just don't understand how it couldn't be a success.  It just makes me think that the lack of single player content is more about keeping things away from V (so that anyone who wants new/different stuff has to go to GTAO) and less about the financial viability of single player DLC. 

[InsertWittyPun]

15 minutes ago, Totallycasual said:

 

I won't even start on how much it pisses me off that the single player DLC was cannibalized for GTA Online, but what i will say is that if they made a bunch of GTAO specific stuff available as single player DLC, i would have gladly paid for it, i think the so called "Expanded and Enhanced" version of V was the perfect opportunity to allow the casino to open and some of the other GTAO stuff to make its way into the single player game.  With an install base the size of V's, i just don't understand how it couldn't be a success.  It just makes me think that the lack of single player content is more about keeping things away from V (so that anyone who wants new/different stuff has to go to GTAO) and less about the financial viability of single player DLC. 

 

I can understand with how blind sided they were by GTA Online's success. But they have had 10 years and RD:O to focus on both Multiplayer and Singleplayer.

 

I get that the reason for RDR 2's shelving and GTA "VI" needing the full attention of Rockstar Studios that RD:O and RDR 2 got neglected. 

 

But I really hope that given time and the sheer amount of developers they would not leave money on the table by excluding the next titles singleplayer. 

 

But I agree, I would gladly spend money to buy a conventional singleplayer DLC akin to the scope of say AC: Mirage (or Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty) for ~ same price. 

 

Would gladly prefer that over "free" Online DLC, and I know it wouldn't affect the next Onlines sales or performance either.

 

People who play the Online will play it, especially if they keep the social features from RD:O, build from the social features from GTA:O and implement the RP servers. Multilayer will always be a place to socialise with friends.

 

Rockstar has a chance to create three revenue streams from one title. If not from a fan standpoint for making singleplayer content, monetarily I know Take Two wants to make as much money as possible.

[Trafficante]

I’d love a great SP DLC. I can see a single player DLC if it’s got Online FOMO mechanics with things like cosmetics, cash, some Battle Pass stuff or whatever. This could be Rockstar’s first step to get into paid cosmetics without annoying the fan base & looking like Ubisoft.

 

Obviously Online is the cash cow so it has to be 50-50 on both sides, but I’m fine with that trade off. With the graphical improvements I have a feeling like Online will push heavily into cosmetics especially with the clothing & bracelets physics & what not that we’ve seen in the leaks. I just hope the clothing styles will be grounded with some street style if they want to add some artistic and wacky flair. None of those gothic skulls from RDR2 or Ubisoft high fantasy BS.

 

It’s really not hard to look at some high fashion but moderate stuff & model after them.

[InsertWittyPun]

37 minutes ago, Trafficante said:

I’d love a great SP DLC. I can see a single player DLC if it’s got Online FOMO mechanics with things like cosmetics, cash, some Battle Pass stuff or whatever. This could be Rockstar’s first step to get into paid cosmetics without annoying the fan base & looking like Ubisoft.

 

Obviously Online is the cash cow so it has to be 50-50 on both sides, but I’m fine with that trade off. With the graphical improvements I have a feeling like Online will push heavily into cosmetics especially with the clothing & bracelets physics & what not that we’ve seen in the leaks. I just hope the clothing styles will be grounded with some street style if they want to add some artistic and wacky flair. None of those gothic skulls from RDR2 or Ubisoft high fantasy BS.

 

It’s really not hard to look at some high fashion but moderate stuff & model after them.

I'd rather buy the DLC outright and have access compared to the FOMO mechanics.

 

Yet, if the offer was that or nothing I'd gladly take it. I think those mechanics work exceptionally well in the Online, but for singleplayer I would much rather the content bought outright. 

 

I could see some former of Pass system implemented though, that would most certainly be the least invasive in comparison to Gold Bars or something like that.

Edited October 20, 2023 by InsertWittyPun

[Short Dawg]

Yeah , that’s not happening 

[Spider-Vice]

Fully depends on GTA VI's main story (if it's expandable) and whether they want to add new features and content to the Story Mode or not as time passes. They will be focusing on content for their live service game which should be obvious, however there seems to be a slight resurgence in successful, critically acclaimed single player expansions (e.g. Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty and Horizon Forbidden West's Burning Shores) so who knows...

I also don't think any FOMO/premium content would come to Story Mode. (in fact I'm not sure that's what Traficante meant?) GTAO like cosmetics etc? Yep, sure.

 

I'm not that sour GTA V didn't get Story Mode DLC personally, but they could have done without announcing it before they were 100% sure and at a proper stage of development.

[Gdog]

i'd like to get a DLC/expansion for VI but i am not expecting it to happen. if it does then cool but i'm just going to tell myself it's not happening even if Rockstar comes out and announces it because we all know how that went with V.

 

what i am expecting is for VI to come out and then all focus will go onto GTA Online 2.0 within ~a month. if we're lucky they'll throw us single player peasants a bone of some of the new content they add to Online like they did with V for a while. once the focus is on Online then that'll be Rockstar for another 10+ years. Gotta milk them Shark Cards.

Edited October 20, 2023 by Gdog

[Tez2]

6 hours ago, InsertWittyPun said:

How long do you think it will be post launch for a new singleplayer narrative or even post launch singleplayer content? Another 10 years? No DLC anymore? Only Online focused post launch content?

Rockstar had episodic content, aka SP DLC, planned for V way before release. Plans changed around mid to late 2014. You may have heard of the three episodes they were planning, but there was more too. The point is Rockstar was going with the same plan they had for IV. GTAO booming was unexpected.

 

Now, for VI, it’s different. It won’t be unexpected. And from what we’ve heard and what Jason Schreier said, Rockstar is already going with the same plan before. Episodic content with new map updates and expansions. Which would help reduce crunch.

 

So I think we are gonna see SP updates as frequent as online updates. And the first major DLC within a year or two from launch.

[Malolaat]

7 minutes ago, Tez2 said:

Rockstar had episodic content, aka SP DLC, planned for V way before release. Plans changed around mid to late 2014. You may have heard of the three episodes they were planning, but there was more too. The point is Rockstar was going with the same plan they had for IV. GTAO booming was unexpected.

 

Now, for VI, it’s different. It won’t be unexpected. And from what we’ve heard and what Jason Schreier said, Rockstar is already going with the same plan before. Episodic content with new map updates and expansions. Which would help reduce crunch.

 

So I think we are gonna see SP updates as frequent as online updates. And the first major DLC within a year or two from launch.

When do you think we can expect the release?
Some time ago you mentioned that Rockstar always aimed for 2024, maybe their plans have changed?

[InsertWittyPun]

6 minutes ago, Tez2 said:

Rockstar had episodic content, aka SP DLC, planned for V way before release. Plans changed around mid to late 2014. You may have heard of the three episodes they were planning, but there was more too. The point is Rockstar was going with the same plan they had for IV. GTAO booming was unexpected.

 

Now, for VI, it’s different. It won’t be unexpected. And from what we’ve heard and what Jason Schreier said, Rockstar is already going with the same plan before. Episodic content with new map updates and expansions. Which would help reduce crunch.

 

So I think we are gonna see SP updates as frequent as online updates. And the first major DLC within a year or two from launch.

It makes sense to me that they would make individual "games" consisting of new stories to tailored maps to the singleplayer story that those maps get added to an ever evolving Online. 

 

But as a long time consumer of your content, I thank k you for your input.

[hardBallas]

No way in hell they would release singleplayer DLC, online proved that you can put minimal effort and still make bank. Online mode will most likely be their focus post launch until the next game.

[Short Dawg]

34 minutes ago, hardBallas said:

No way in hell they would release singleplayer DLC, online proved that you can put minimal effort and still make bank. Online mode will most likely be their focus post launch until the next game.

As it should be regardless if people like it or not 

[blacklemon173]

To be honest, I'm not expecting any singleplayer support after launch whatsoever. No DLC or anything like that. The way they completely sh*t on GTA V Story Mode tells me everything I need to know. They will definitely deliver in terms of story, but Online is the true money maker in the end and they'll probably keep focussing on that.

[Ballbreaker_]

People demand games with +100 hours of content and they want still want DLCs or whatever. I doubt the majority of players are going to play even 1/3 of this.

 

If they manage to release a complete, functional and remarkable single-player experience like GTA V or RDR 2, well, that's more than enough for me, and it should be enough for almost everyone...

Edited October 20, 2023 by FamousActor_

[GroceryGetter89]

16 hours ago, Tez2 said:

Rockstar had episodic content, aka SP DLC, planned for V way before release. Plans changed around mid to late 2014. You may have heard of the three episodes they were planning, but there was more too. The point is Rockstar was going with the same plan they had for IV. GTAO booming was unexpected.

 

Now, for VI, it’s different. It won’t be unexpected. And from what we’ve heard and what Jason Schreier said, Rockstar is already going with the same plan before. Episodic content with new map updates and expansions. Which would help reduce crunch.

 

So I think we are gonna see SP updates as frequent as online updates. And the first major DLC within a year or two from launch.

I just hope we get online cars to story mode

[wqx]

19 hours ago, Spider-Vice said:

Fully depends on GTA VI's main story (if it's expandable) and whether they want to add new features and content to the Story Mode or not as time passes.

But they could always go for a new story with new protagonists. Someone like a side character or another faction within the game. Instead they could also let the new story happen in a different "cosmos" (high society, gang life, rural area or the south american location if we get one) which was maybe under utilizied within the main game.

 

I wouldn't like the idea of a prologue or epilogue for Jason/Lucia.

[Trafficante]

When V Online became a massive success, it’s only logical a company would try and bank on it. Now that Rockstar and T2 have resources to create both, I would be surprised if they don’t even try.

 

Everyone knows R* storytelling slaps & there’s a huge camp of people who play only SP. If they create a single player DLC with Online FOMO mechanics, aka “if you buy this SP DLC, you get this SP DLC and this Online stuff,” the die-hard Online fan base would buy it.

[Tim The Tool Bag Taylor]

Posting this as some of the community don't know about this article.

 

The previous Director of Design, Imran Sarwar, was interviewed by GameInformer in 2017. He was asked about episodic content for GTA V and if it was a deliberate decision to move away from it:

 

Quote

It was not really a conscious decision, it’s just what happened. We would love to do more single-player add-ons for games in the future. As a company we love single-player more than anything, and believe in it absolutely – for storytelling and a sense of immersion in a world, multiplayer games don’t rival single-player games.

 

The reason why GTA V's Story DLC's were cancelled:

 

Quote

The next-gen versions took a year of everyone’s time to get right, then the online component had a lot of potential, but to come close to realizing that potential also sucked up a lot of resources. And then there are other games – in particular Red Dead Redemption II. The combination of these three factors means for this game, we did not feel single-player expansions were either possible or necessary, but we may well do them for future projects.

 

Red Dead Redemption II released and we some of us thought there was potential for a Undead Nightmare 2 DLC or some type of story expansion, but nope. With GTA VI and Rockstar's changed workplace culture, I really hope its Story Mode sees additional stories, whether for the main characters or completely new ones.