UPDATE: It seems these microtranscations rumors might be true after all. Consumers with early access to GTA Online have confirmed to Eurogamer the pricing information for the rumored cash cards; which are used to purchase in-game money. The list is as follows:
$100,000 Red Shark Cash Card – £1.99 ($3)
$200,000 Tiger Shark Cash Card – £3.49 ($5.5)
$500,000 Bull Shark Cash Card – £6.99 ($11)
$1,250,000 Great White Shark Cash Card – £13.49 ($22)
Rockstar have yet to confirm these rumors, but it is now more apparent that it is actually true.
ORIGINAL STORY: Grand Theft Auto Online, a multiplayer add-on to Grand Theft Auto V, is rumored to include microtranscations. By way of Redditor “1880”, a XML file was discovered that has referenced real purchases that will allow players to access certain items. The amount of in-game money players will be able to purchase come in $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $1,250,000 denominations. GTA Online will allow players to buy houses, cars, airplanes, property, etc. The online mode, which also includes competitive game modes, emphasizes the importance of money and is the central goal for players’ progression.
Whether or not this is actually true has yet to be confirmed, but it wouldn’t be surprising considering the online mode’s mechanics. The images for the denominations, or cash “cards”, can be found here. The images are accompanied by a brief description, “Cash is king in this town. Solve your money problems and help get what you want across Los Santos and Blaine County with the purchase of cash packs for Grand Theft Auto Online. All purchased cash is automatically deposited into your character’s bank account. Spend wisely, cash therapy is fleeting.”
Microtranscations have been included in other titles, but fans generally dislike the feature. These types of transactions are becoming more and more common however, so it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see it in GTA Online; especially considering the potential profit.
GTAV is out for the Xbox 360 and PS3. The game has currently made well over $1 billion in sales.
