A former Rockstar developer has revealed that GTA V Story DLC was canceled because GTA Online became a “Cash Cow”.
Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) is a super popular game that came out more than ten years ago. But here’s the thing: players never got any extra stuff for the single-player mode (like new stories or characters). Now it has been revealed that the company had plans for cool DLCs (downloadable content), including one all about Trevor, a character in the game. However, these expansions were ultimately canceled because GTA Online became an unexpected goldmine for Rockstar Games.
GTA V Story DLC Was Reportedly Canceled Because GTA Online Became a “Cash Cow”
In a recent interview with YouTuber SanInPlay, former Rockstar developer Joseph Rubino shared insights about the canceled Trevor DLC. Rubino explained that the DLC was intended to feature Trevor as an undercover agent. He was deeply involved in the project as a senior camera artist and editor.
According to Rubino, the DLC development was about halfway complete when it was canceled. The primary reason for the cancellation of the Trevor DLC, and other planned expansions, was the immense financial success of GTA Online.
When GTA Online launched, it quickly became a major source of revenue for Rockstar. Rubino described it as a “cash cow” that made it difficult to justify investing resources into standalone DLCs that might not generate as much income.
Rubino explained that the team was split, with some members, including himself, continuing to work on GTA Online, while others moved on to early development for Red Dead Redemption 2. The decision to focus on GTA Online was driven by its immediate financial success and popularity.
Rubino expressed some frustration over the cancellation, feeling that it was possible to support both GTA Online and a single-player DLC.
Well, it is to be noted that the Trevor DLC wasn’t the only expansion planned for GTA V. Data mined from the game in 2023 revealed other canceled DLCs too, including ones that are themed around a zombie apocalypse and an alien invasion.
Though Rubino did mention that despite the cancellation, some elements from the planned DLCs found their way into GTA Online. This included various content and features that were initially developed for the single-player expansions.
Evidently, this was a sad news as it left fans of the single-player experience yearning for more, and both Rubino and Steven Ogg, the actor who played Trevor, have also expressed their disappointment over the canceled DLCs.
Ogg recalled working on scenes where Trevor was an undercover agent, likening it to a “James Bond Trevor” scenario. Unfortunately, these plans never materialized, and the content was absorbed into the ever-expanding world of GTA Online.
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