Online rabble-rouser Adin Ross, a popular livestreamer who was banned from Twitch for “hateful conduct”, has hatched a plan to launch a crypto-fueled GTA 6 economy that pays players for their in-game exploits. Unphased by the lack of info on the highly-anticipated game including, most prominently, the lack of a PC release date, Ross claims his GTA 6 server will see players earn real money for virtual hustles, from flipping houses to selling drugs.
The rub? Players will have to convert their in-game coin into a cryptocurrency, of course. And, if you die, you lose it all. Together, these outspoken influencers were credited with helping President Donald Trump clinch the Gen Z male vote. Needless to say, Ross’s master plan to turn GTA 6 into a side gig for millions of players is full of holes.
As social media users have pointed out, his server would be in violation of Rockstar Games and Take-Two’s terms of service. Under commercial exploitation, they explicitly state that “generating revenue via corporate sponsorships or in-game integrations, or the use of cryptocurrencies or crypto assets (e.g. NFTs) is not allowed.
Not to mention the fact that gamers have previously taken umbrage with the idea of earn-as-you-play games, fearing that shady outsiders are exploiting their favorite pastime to line their pockets. It doesn’t help that most of these projects have been associated with crypto, which is known for being rife with scams. Still, there have been some glimmers of hope. A recent shooter called Off the Grid felt like a more fleshed-out release, with an optional crypto-currency marketplace that saw players trading digital weapons and other items as NFTs.
So, can we put this down to Ross’s attention-seeking antics or is the 24-year-old on to something? Interestingly, a recent report did indicate that players would be able to earn money from GTA 6, but not in the way Ross is proposing. Notably, Roblox creators are making more bank than ever courtesy of their virtual clothing collections and in-game worlds. Between late October and January, they waltzed off with $280 million (£221mn), a 27 per cent increase from the year prior.
The timing of Ross’s announcement couldn’t be worse, however. After a surge following Trump’s inauguration, crypto has hit a reality check. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a slew of so-called meme coins have all plummeted amid wider stock market turmoil sparked, in part, by the threat of a Trump-induced global trade war.
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