'GTA 5' Problems: Making Money In Game Grows Difficult Due To Micro-Transactions

Earning cash in the action adventure title may be more of a hassle than it's worth.

GTAV11-1024x576 — Players are complaining that earning cash in "GTA 5" is growing more difficult since microtransactions were introduced. Courtesy/Rockstar

“Grand Theft Auto 5 Online” has experienced some problems since micro-transactions were adopted into the action-adventure game. This means players can use real-life cash and trade it for in-game money.

A majority of gamers have responded negatively to the feature, saying it disrupts the balance of the competition. Although, let’s be real, “GTA” isn’t necessarily about balance or fairness.

Many users have complained about playing for extended periods of time while earning very little. There is speculation about Rockstar introducing money-making heists into the game, but no specific date introducing a patch for such campaigns has been announced.

Take-Two Interactive, which owns Rock Star Games, the creator of the “GTA” series, responded to the criticism on Feb. 4, saying the company’s "primary goal is to delight consumers and create a great experience."

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the issue during an investor call last week. “The reason that we offer an opportunity to spend money in the game is that’s coordinated with a great experience. We are not making decisions in order to extract value, we are making decisions to delight consumers. And that includes creating value.”

He also added that “yes, we had some issues with the currency. Those issues have been addressed and we are not really focused on whether the catch-up or anything of this sort. You know as long as people keep loving 'GTA Online' it’s going to be great for us.”

“GTA V,” which received highly favorable reviews, was the 15th installment in the “GTA” series and the first game since 2008’s “GTA IV.”

The Spike Video Game Awards gave the title the Most Anticipated Game award in 2012. Following its release, the game received the Game of the Year award at the 2013 Golden Joystick Awards. Only three days following its release, IGN listed “GTA V” as second on its list of “Top 25 Xbox 360 Games.”

Within just 24 hours of its release, “GTA V” generated more than $800 million in revenue, equating to about 11.21 million copies sold. Three days after its release, the title had surpassed $1 billion in sales. By Oct. 7, nearly one month after the game's release on Sept. 17, “GTA V” became the largest digital release in the PlayStation Store for the PS3. The game also received a score of 8/10 on GameSpot.com.

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