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Rumor: Grand Theft Auto Online Will Give You The Option To Purchase In-Game Cash
Whether you call them microtransactions, paid cheats, or a way to speed up access to customization options, evidence points to Grand Theft Auto Online getting some kind of in-game currency purchase. The online mode is extremely ambitious, and while GTA V has made over $1 billion, the add-on is going to be free.
Grand Theft Auto Online is coming on October 1, 2013, and anyone that has a copy of Grand Theft Auto V can get in the door. GTA Online's resources are completely segmented from those earned in the campaign, and you'll need cash to buy and maintain cars, and a nice place to live with a big garage.
Redditor "1880," who discovered the XML file referencing the add-ons, indicates these come in $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $1,250,000 denominations. We reached out to Rockstar to inquire about the discovery, and the studio declined to comment.
Our Take
Since cash is used for cars, clothes, and residences, it seems like purchasing in-game currency with real money is simply a shortcut. When we talk about microtransactions and elements of free-to-play games, it's time to start worrying when there are multiple currencies. Those typically hint at a paywall and goods that can only be acquired by opening up the wallet.
If you're willing to put in the time to knock over convenience stores and build up to bigger heists, I hope you won't need to resort to buying in-game money. Provided that the gameplay doesn't become unbalanced, I have no problem with people having access to a real money fast-track in an online game.
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