Grand Theft Auto Online has been a successful bridge between Grand Theft Auto 5 and the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, with yearly updates introducing new content such as vehicles, weapons, and missions. Despite this, the in-game shopping experience has not been optimized to its fullest potential. GTA has always been known for its satire, and the game's parodies of existing brands and companies can offer a unique opportunity for a satirical take on e-commerce, consumerism, and the insatiable need for more from mega-corporations. With the resurgence of online shopping, GTA Online has a chance to explore and satirize this phenomenon in a way that fits the game's ethos.
There's Never Been A Better Time To Parody Online Shopping
Online shopping has been a topic of discussion for a while now, and the power dynamic between companies and their employees has become a source of controversy. GTA Online has the opportunity to satirize and critique the actions of online marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart, especially in light of the increased reliance on online shopping due to Covid-19. By using the pandemic as a starting point, GTA Online can delve into the bigger issues of corporate monopolies and profit-focused disregard for human welfare. However, in addition to critiquing CEOs and companies, GTA Online could also address the role of consumers in perpetuating these issues. Just as people engage with Lifeinvader's social media in GTA 5, the game could reflect the inherent consumerism of capitalism and the willingness of people to keep shopping online.
Online Shopping Has A Lot To Offer GTA Online
Online shopping in GTA Online not only offers a convenient means of acquiring items and weapons without leaving the comfort of your phone, but also comments on the modern-day desire for same- or next-day delivery and the ease of obtaining firearms in America. This feature could also reflect the "innovations" e-commerce companies are attempting, such as Amazon's delivery-drone blimp. A satirical counterpart to companies like Amazon or Walmart could economize how players buy things in GTA Online and become an integral part of future installments. As the game continues to reflect the real world, e-commerce will inevitably have to be addressed and could offer in-game potential for characters and missions, including a heist to steal a delivery-drone blimp or a megalomaniacal CEO-inspired antagonist.
Grand Theft Auto Online is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.