Now, I don't normally double up on blogs, but I think I need to this in this case. Also, I should have spent a bit more time on my previous entry and let it cook, because things were still developing around Rockstar's announcement of Grand Theft Auto 6 preorders. I didn't even talk about the 100 dollar "ultimate" edition....
So, one thing that's been plaguing this industry for a long time now has been "collector's" and "ultimate" editions where they take day one content out of the base game and sell it back to the consumer in a more expensive edition. Gamers have been falling for this business practice for a long time now, and it all stemmed back to Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion when Bethesda found out they could sell gamers worthless cosmetics for two dollars when they started selling horse armor as DLC.
Yet, this ultimate edition of GTA VI seems egregious. Yes, cosmetics have been set aside from games before, but it's usually a few costumes, or a few skins for cars, or weapons that aren't that much better than what's earned in the game. With GTA VI, though, they're locking out entire shops of clothing and entire shops of car modifications and a mission that has you collecting and restoring cars. Instead of providing exclusive tattoos for the "ultimate" edition, they've even locked out an entire tattoo shop from the base game. They've cauterized n artery that's made GTA what it is: customization. They've also taken it a step further by plastering signs on these shops that say in so many words "closed until you buy the ultimate edition" so it's like they're trying to shame their consumers into upgrading.
Even though this is nothing new, this kills me because Rockstar has never done "special" editions; they've never needed to it. Their games have always sold so well that they didn't have to nickel and dime their customers with DLC tidbits, and they kept all their microtransaction business practices separated in their GTA Online portion of the game, which is still to this day making them tons of money and has most likely funded GTA VI all by itself. And when they implement GTA Online into VI, it will only continue to print more money.
Sure, the game's cost about a couple of billion dollars to make, but they're clearly going to make that back, and then some. GTA Online alone will keep them afloat. They'll even turn profit before the year is out. But back to the cost of development. You know, I'm just going to flat out ask this question: How is them spending that much money on making a game (and honestly, overbudgeted games in general) OUR problem? We didn't ask Rockstar to stop making content since RDR2. We wanted story DLC for GTA V and RDR2. We wanted new games from Rockstar. New IPs. Reasons to play Rockstar games that weren't GTA V for the PS4 and GTA V for the PS5. Instead, they focus solely on GTA Online and fed that revenue into one game, and now we have to pay for it. So, I'll ask again: how is THEIR overbudgeting OUR problem?
The other problem I'm having with Rockstar, as I've already discussed in the previous blog, is how the preorders for "physical" copies are being handled. I really think it's a stupid idea that for now, you can only preorder a "physical" copy that only contains a code in the box. I'm glad other retailers think so, too, as they've been pushing back on code in boxes. If only GameStop would take a stand, then Rockstar would change their tune immediately.
So, shortly after receiving so much pushback and outlash, Rockstar announced that they will release a physical disc, but well after launch. You know, I would have respected Rockstar more if they just stuck to their guns and left it at that, but instead, what they've done is created mass confusion and mass plastic waste by shipping out millions of empty game cases. If any gamer is paying attention, they're going to not preorder the "physical" edition and wait for the actual disc, but I've already seen many weak-willed gamers who let FOMO rule their lives saying they need to have a physical case on their shelves, even if it is empty. For fuck's sake... just wait for the disc!
Rockstar claims they went code in box to prevent disc copies from being stolen and leaked, but you know what they could have done? They could have shipped disc copies that require a day one patch in order to launch or at least put the key on the disc and kept the servers shut off until after launch. Or, they could have just not bothered with the code in box and announced disc copies coming at a later date from the VERY BEGINNING! Everyone who buys a code in box is still going to need the internet to download it, so just preorder from the digital stores! Also, let's not act like Rockstar can't get hacked again when an 18 year old hacked them with the a cellphone and a Firestick. But nope, I stand by what I believe in.
They did this to prevent sales from being diminished by the second hand market. A game that's going to sell 100 million+ copies, and Rockstar is afraid of a few sales being lost to the secondhand market. A game that's only going to print more money when GTA Online is added needs to have critical customization content locked behind a 20 dollar pay wall.
You know what? This is not right. Fuck Rockstar. This was supposed to be a very special release in many ways. I was really looking forward to it, but the way it's been handled now, all my hype is gone. Completely gone. Rockstar wants to play with their customers? Fuck 'em. I'll wait until the discs are out and I'll buy a used a copy. I'll support the secondhand market instead. Rockstar just proved to me they don't need my money.
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