14 DAY TRIAL // The microtransactions in Grand Theft Auto 5's online multiplayer mode have resulted in profits of around $66.4 million (€48.4 million), according to new statements from publisher Take-Two Interactive.
Grand Theft Auto 5 came out last September and sold around 32.5 million units since then, amazing many PS3 and Xbox 360 owners with its great single-player story campaign but also with its addictive GTA Online multiplayer experience.
Rockstar generated a lot of controversy with the fact that it included microtransactions in the multiplayer mode, allowing players to buy in-game cash with real-world money, and the company clarified that the goal was to offer convenience for customers.
Now, in an interview with MCV, Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick talked about the way of extracting money from games.
"It is great that consumers anticipate our titles, like they anticipate the next James Bond film. Our goal is to create permanent franchises," he said.
"A few years ago, we’d launch a title, it would be sold physically, then we would sell catalogue versions of it. Today we launch a title, and often – if not always – put out DLC. We’ve talked about recurrent consumer spending, where we have offerings where fans can engage and spend money on an on-going basis."
More specifically, with Grand Theft Auto 5, Rockstar generated through microtransactions nearly half of its digital revenue, which was confirmed at $132.8 million (€96.8 million).
"With GTA V, we have sold 32.5m units in to date, which is extraordinary. 70 per cent of people that have played GTA V while online have played GTA Online, which is a free-to-play experience. And recurrent consumer spending related to GTA Online represented nearly half of our digitally delivered revenue in the quarter. So people are voting that they want to stay engaged and they are voting with their wallets."
Using simple math, GTA Online's microtransactions managed to rake in around $66.4 million (€48.4 million).