After a relatively quiet month of October, the world of Grand Theft Auto Online came alive as the temperatures dropped and the snow started to fall. The game’s annual Halloween Event was undoubtedly the biggest news of the month as Rockstar pulled out all the stops to keep us entertained with a plethora of content and activities to keep us busy throughout the winter.
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
While the game itself was undoubtedly interesting, it’s the technical aspects that truly make or break a game like GTA Online. With each new game update, Grand Theft Auto Online’s developers strive to improve performance as much as they can to ensure that players’ experience is as close to real life as possible. The latest batch of updates made quite an impact, especially on PC users, as optimization and compatibility were the order of the day. It would be fair to say that at this point in time, most players are experiencing a considerable improvement in performance – even on consoles.
The Millionaire And The Mega-Millionaire
Another major talking point during the month of October was the phenomenal success of two former Strip poker players who’ve made a fortune in GTA Online. As of press time, the current record for most money earned in the game stands at $22,500,000 – achieved by Michael Rosenbaum. He surpassed the previous record held by William Hill, the famous English bookmaker. Mr. Hill’s record was broken when he wagered $23,000,000 and won. Both these men are now bona fide millionaires in their own right and have featured heavily in the media spotlight. Their phenomenal winnings have also resulted in a bidding war between Russian and English bookmakers who want a piece of the action. Naturally, Michael’s nickname of ‘The Millionaire’ has been bestowed upon him as an additional mark of his monetary success. The fact that he’s a native Canadian adds an extra layer of meaning to this particular sobriquet.
GTA On Social Media
On social media, especially Twitter, players are sharing their thoughts, ideas, and opinions about the annual Halloween Event in all its guises. As with any popular story or media property, there are numerous references to it on all social media platforms. It appears that Rockstar has fully embraced the platforms and utilized them to their advantage, engaging with players on topics ranging from game news and rumors to celebrity cameos and competitions. To give you an example, take a look at these statistics from SteamTrader.com, which track the top stories and discussions on the Steam community regarding GTA Online:
Top Stories On Steam
Since the start of the year, some of the most popular stories on Steam concern GTA Online. Here are the most discussed topics:
GTA Online
The game itself is undoubtedly one of the most popular topics and appears in the top five throughout the site. This is also somewhat reflected on Reddit, where the GTA subreddit is one of the largest and most active in all of Reddit. Naturally, many of the stories here concern general gameplay tips, tricks, and strategies. Additionally, many players are looking for a way to make money in the game. This is reflected in the fact that the game’s largest marketplace, the St. Louis Airport, has been taken over by a bunch of scam artists who are preying upon innocent players. Luckily, the authorities have taken action and shut down this particular black market. The fact that these characters are hackers is also being used by some players as a way to make money, especially as the demand for ‘hacking skins’ in the game has seen a significant rise (pricing aside). Other popular topics since the start of the year include:
Madden NFL 19
The latest installment in EA Sports’ Madden NFL franchise was one of the most popular games of 2019. In fact, it was the top-selling game on all platforms during October. Naturally, many players have taken on a keen interest in the gameplay changes and improvements for the latest Madden NFL. As with any major sports franchise, the gameplay received heavy criticism, particularly concerning its changes to the tackle mechanic (resulting in more one-on-one, or ‘garry-style,’ football). While the gameplay may not be for everyone, especially those who enjoy more traditional football, the changes made for Madden NFL 19 represent the future of football as we know it.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
The latest tactical shooter from the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six franchise was one of the biggest surprises of 2019. We knew that it was coming at the end of the year and it did not disappoint. Despite positive reviews, the game did not become a massive seller, which is quite remarkable when you consider how well-known and popular the Tom Clancy’s brand is. In fact, it was the third-largest game of 2019 in terms of sales and the third-largest game of any kind (regardless of platform) in terms of revenue. Naturally, most buyers of this game were already familiar with the gameplay as it is a previous title in the franchise. However, having said that, the game’s success can be attributed to its unique mechanic of allowing the player to dynamically switch between stealth and combat modes in order to overcome increasingly difficult combat situations. This dynamic tension and immersion between cooperation and competition makes for exciting gameplay that fans of the franchise will not want to miss.
Black History Month
The past few years have seen a growing interest in and appreciation of black culture and history during October. Last year, both the NBA and NHL took time off work to celebrate October as ‘Black History Month.’ Additionally, many colleges and universities hold special events during the month of October to celebrate their black students, staff, and alumni. This is also the case for the University of North Carolina, where, since 2009, they have been celebrating ‘One-of-a-Kind Month.’ In light of this trend, many players are looking for ways to celebrate this important moment in history. Fortunately, many of the game’s most popular restaurants and eateries are open to all, regardless of race, gender, or nationality. This makes them a great place for players to hang out and celebrate a fabulous history month.
If you’ve made it this far, then congratulations! You’ve likely discovered the various ways that you can make money playing games. Whether you’ve got a knack for gaming or you simply want to make easy money with the least amount of effort possible, you’ve hopefully found a way to do so. Hopefully, these tips and tricks for making quick cash in GTA Online have helped you in your quest to join the millionaire’s club. If not, then perhaps it’s time to think of a new game to get into.