Rockstar’s online sandbox has always taken a rather bold direction in terms of open-world storytelling and missions. Rightfully so, the game has managed to gather a hefty player base. While Grand Theft Auto Online is mostly free to play, it features some clever strategies to make you spend more and more.
The world of Los Santos is realistic and immersive, and there are tons of ways to explore around. Whether it’s Los Santos or Blaine, you will always find a task to do. However, there is an ongoing Rockstar trend that occurs whenever you try to purchase an object using the in-game currency.
If you have tried to buy items in GTA Online then you might have wondered about the exorbitant price tags.
Everything in GTA Online is too pricey for a free-to-play player to buy. The reason behind this is rather simple. Rockstar Games does this in order to encourage spending real money to make your in-game purchases.
While this is a clever business tactic, its scope is beyond that of a simple money grab. Here is how it all works.
How is GTA Online Still Standing?
GTA Online stays relevant by releasing new events and content in the form of DLCs. Now, Rockstar does hold the option to ask the players to pay up in order to enjoy the new content in a straightforward manner. Instead, they make it free to play while bumping the price up to the point where it is easier to buy it than grinding multiple missions.
This helps Rockstar continuously release new content at a higher frequency while turning out a guaranteed profit. By pricing every object so high that you need a considerable amount of time to buy all the purchasables through in-game missions, they encourage people to spend money on the in-game content in order to get ahead of the competition.
Is Rockstar an Evil Company?
Rather than calling Rockstar “Evil” or “Greedy”, it’s better to look at it from another more general perspective. While a lot of people complain about the massive inflation that has occurred in the game since its release, it is one of the only ways to keep the online server alive.
Almost every microtransactions-enabled game has two kinds of players. The ones that pay real money in order to get ahead and the ones that simply enjoy the game for what it is. None of these players are better than the other based solely on this metric.
However, maintaining a healthy balance of both kinds is needed for a successful game. You can also think of it like this: The pay-to-win players are paying to keep the server alive and they get their own perks in exchange. While you, as a regular player can enjoy the playtime you are getting from playing your favorite game for absolutely free.
Can You Progress as a F2P Player in GTA Online?
While you cannot surpass someone dumping boatloads of money in the game, if your main goal is to make money in GTA Online then it is not that hard. There are several ways through which you can strive in the game even as a free-to-play player. We will be listing some of them below.
Don’t Spend Excessive Money
It goes without saying, but your start will be rougher than others. At this point, you should focus on saving as much as you can. You will need to gather around $2,200,000 before life gets easier. Therefore try to minimize your spending on:
- Unnecessary Clothes
- Flashy Vehicles
- Unnecessary Weapons
Be Ready To Invest Time
You should be ready to dedicate some portion of your daily time to GTA Online. Grind as many missions as you can in order to reach the $2,200,000 mark. It will all be worth it in the end. Therefore, try to maximize your grinding efficiency and feel free to invest in the items that will give you bigger returns.
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However, do not gamble with your profits yet because you will be needing them later. Try to look for high-paying missions that can turn you a decent profit for your time. This can help you get a good grasp of the missions and their difficulty.
Grind the Cayo Perico Heist
Cayo Perico Heist is currently the most rewarding mission available in Grand Theft Auto Online. The payouts can easily give you a life of luxury without doing much effort. With that said, here is how you can get started:
- Once you have amassed the initial sum of $2,200,000, head to the new nightclub available under the Diamond Casino.
- Meet Miguel Madrazo and let him fill you in on his heist plan.
- The money will now come into play as you will have to purchase the Kosatka submarine HQ from Warstock Cache and Carry as your new base of operations. This is a one time purchase and the property will be owned by you even after the mission’s end.
- Head out of the submarine and start the mission.
Unfortunately, the Cayo Perico Island is only a part of the mission. Therefore, you won’t be able to go and loot it aside from the mission. The estimated payout of a single heist is around $1,078,000 and constantly grinding it can set you up for a pretty smooth ride.
This mission can be played both Multiplayer and Solo. The total reward of a solo heist is more than twice of what you get from the multiplayer variant. However, completing the Cayo Perico Heist without proper preparation is much harder than it looks.
Ultimately, you get to decide how you want to play the game. While there is a pay-to-win element present in GTA Online, it should not affect you aside from the earlier portions of the game. The main reason that this element is present in the first place is to help Rockstar keep the GTA Online server alive. If you are F2P, then grinding the Diamond Casino Heist is a good way to earn a lot of money in the game.