GTA Online has become a huge part of Rockstar’s success, transforming what fans expect from the franchise.

Multiplayer gameplay is now just as important as single-player experiences, and this shift is likely at the core of Rockstar’s development approach for GTA 6.

Since its debut in 2013, GTA Online has grown into its own standalone success, contributing massively to the overall impact of GTA 5.

Beyond its wild races and sandbox chaos, GTA Online has kept the narrative of GTA 5 alive, especially since there were no single-player expansions.

This trend is expected to continue as we approach the release of GTA 6, with GTA Online possibly giving players their first taste of the new game’s story.

GTA Online Can Introduce Key Locations and Characters for GTA 6

Over the years, GTA Online has added surprising depth to the franchise’s story, with new missions featuring both new and returning characters.

Fan favorites like Franklin and Lamar from GTA 5 have made several appearances, showing how their lives have evolved since the single-player story ended.

Characters like Lester Crest and Trevor Phillips have also played significant roles in GTA Online, proving the platform’s value in delivering short bursts of narrative content connected to the main campaign.

Given this, it’s likely that Rockstar will introduce some GTA 6-related content in GTA Online before the new game’s release. This could help players get to know some of GTA 6’s characters and learn more about Vice City.

While it might be too much to expect GTA Online to allow players to explore parts of GTA 6’s map or meet its two main characters directly, it’s entirely possible that supporting characters from GTA 6 could make their debut in GTA Online.

These characters could set the stage for GTA 6’s story, perhaps explaining key events like how Lucia ended up in prison.

GTA Online Should Also Link to GTA 6’s Multiplayer

Given GTA Online’s massive success, it’s likely that there will be some connection between it and GTA 6’s online mode.

Rockstar might allow players to transfer their GTA Online characters to the new game, perhaps through a storyline that sees them moving to Vice City to escape trouble or seek new opportunities in the criminal underworld.

Featuring GTA 6 characters in GTA Online would be a smart way to set this up.

While a single-player expansion for GTA 5 would be an ideal way to introduce GTA 6, it seems unlikely that Rockstar will release such DLC this late in the game’s life cycle.

Although there were once plans for GTA 5 story expansions, they never happened, making GTA Online the best avenue for new narrative content.

Any future content should avoid revealing too much about GTA 6, but introducing characters and hinting at the new game’s world would be a great reward for fans who have been waiting eagerly for the next installment.