Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

GTA Online draws crowds, shatters records with Diamond Casino & Resort update

By

The free Diamond Casino & Resort update for GTA Online drew the game’s biggest crowds since the online component of Grand Theft Auto V launched in October 2013.

Rockstar Games did not provide specific numbers, but the developer and publisher told The Hollywood Reporter that the highly anticipated update delivered the biggest player numbers for GTA Online for a single day on July 23, and for a single week from July 23 to July 29.

The Diamond Casino & Resort update adds new narrative elements to GTA Online, focused on gangster Tao Cheng, The Diamond’s head of operations Agatha Baker, and a plan to protect the casino from a hostile takeover by the Duggans, a ruthless Texan petrochemical family that is looking to expand its business.

Related

In addition to finally opening the casino, which has stood as a vacant lot with an “opening soon” sign since Grand Theft Auto 5 was released in September 2013, the update contains six new story missions and several other new competitive modes. It also allows players to buy and customize a private penthouse suite, which also functions as a social space where they can host parties.

Shattering player records through a free content update is unheard of for a six-year-old game, but GTA Online continues its impressive run. Grand Theft Auto V has shipped 110 million copies globally and holds the distinction as the highest-grossing media title ever with $6 billion in revenue in its lifetime.

Also impressive is that Rockstar Games was able to release the Diamond Casino & Resort update for GTA Online amid the ongoing updates for Red Dead Redemption 2 and its online component, Red Dead Online.

Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA Online remain popular after six years, but fans are already looking forward to Grand Theft Auto 6. Recent rumors claim that the game is in the works and that it will feature multiple cities including Liberty City and Vice City.

The leak also claimed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be a next-generation title, as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will not be able to run it due to memory restrictions. Rockstar Games is also said to have big plans for the game’s online component.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Aaron Mamiit
Aaron Mamiit
Contributor
Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…
Grand Theft Auto VI didn’t need The Game Awards
Woman at a rooftop pool party.

This past week was one of the most crowded for video game news because of two events: The Game Awards 2023 and the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer. Initially, I was surprised the two weren’t one and the same. GTA 6’s reveal is the most significant game announcement of the year, after all, and Geoff Keighley always seems to be searching for big Elden Ring- or GTA 6-level moments for his show, even if he doesn’t always get those. After taking a step back and looking at how each performed independently of the other, I think both were better off staying separate.
Taking center stage
When it first teased the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer in November, it said the trailer would be released “in early December.” Like many others, I assumed that this meant it would show up at The Game Awards because that tends to be the case when game developers tease an announcement for that window. For example, Focus Entertainment also said a release date for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 would be confirmed “in early December,” and that ended up happening during The Game Awards.

Ultimately, Rockstar had the GTA 6 trailer slated to release on the morning of December 5, but ended up releasing it on the night of December 4 due to a leak. The game would not go on to make any marketing-related appearance at The Game Awards 2023 on December 7. Although GTA 6 skirted The Game Awards, was leaked, and got posted earlier than intended, it was still a groundbreaking reveal.

Read more
5 key details we noticed in the first Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer
Lucia is interview in prison in Grand Theft Auto VI.

Rockstar finally dropped the first trailer for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 on Monday night after it leaked early. In less than 24 hours, it has already amassed over 77 million views. Outside of what's featured in the trailer, Rockstar isn't revealing much more about GTA 6. Rockstar Games founder Sam Houser simply stated in a press release that Rockstar wants to "push the limits of what’s possible in highly immersive, story-driven open-world experiences."

Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1

Read more
First Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer takes players back to Vice City
Lucia and her partner rob a store in GTA 6.

Watch Trailer 1: Tuesday, December 5 at 9AM ET

Rockstar Games finally dropped the first trailer for the next game in the Grand Theft Auto series, which is officially titled Grand Theft Auto VI. It's set to launch in 2025 and it'll take players back to Vice City.

Read more