Gaming Influencers demand a Crypto-Powered GTA 6 Server: Will Rockstar Shut it Down?

Popular streamer Adin Ross and FaZe Clan CEO Richard “FaZe Banks” Bengtson revealed plans to create a crypto-powered Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) server, pending the high-profile game release. Based or reports, Ross, infamous for his high-profile projects from gaming to crypto, announced that the server that he and Banks would be running would be enabled by a new cryptocurrency driving an in-game economy.

“When GTA 6 drops, me and Ricky are going to make the biggest server together,” Ross said. “And I promise you, it’s going to be completely crypto. Everything pro-crypto about it. It’s going to change the game.”

Well, crypto gaming history probably disagrees with him: Rockstar Games, the studio behind GTA IP, have previously banned in-game crypto and NFT integrations from the company’s online servers. This puts a number of serious questions to whether ambitious plans of Ross and Banks would be ever put to life. 

History of Rockstar to Ban Crypto at GTA Servers

While Ross and Banks contemplate a crypto-infused GTA 6 ecosystem, Rockstar Games has been crystal clear in the past: no blockchain-based assets are allowed in Grand Theft Auto Online.  

In November 2022, Rockstar issued an updated policy to ban the use of cryptocurrencies and NFTs in fan-made role-playing (RP) servers for GTA 5 and Red Dead Online.  

This ban led to the shutdown of several popular servers, including Chicago rapper Lil Durk’s “The Trenches”, which used NFT-based in-game assets. It was made to close after Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive, reportedly issued legal warnings.

Given past actions, there is a slim chance that Rockstar will make an exception for Ross and Banks’ crypto-integrated GTA 6 server.  

Speculation About Rockstar’s Stance on Crypto in GTA 6 

Despite the very strict policies against blockchain gaming, long-standing rumors have suggested that GTA 6 might include some sort of crypto integration. 

• In 2021, speculation came forward that GTA 6 would include Bitcoin-like rewards, enabling players to earn and trade digital currency in-game.
• Take-Two Interactive’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick, allegedly acknowledged the possibility of “Web3 opportunities”, signaling that blockchain-based gaming may have a future in its portfolio.
• The recent move of Rockstar to acquire Zynga, an organization with experience in blockchain gaming, hinted at a possible shift towards Web3.

However, these rumors have never been confirmed, and Rockstar has not announced its plans regarding crypto integrations in GTA 6. Many people believe that should crypto ever come into the game, it will be in a satirical manner rather than actually being some sort of functioning feature.  

Legal and Financial Implications for Ross and Banks

If Rockstar were to actually enforce its no-crypto policy, then Ross and Banks’ proposed server could be at risk of legal action. 

1. Rockstar’s Enforcement History

Take-Two Interactive has been known to defend its IP, having filed lawsuits aggressively and sent cease-and-desist letters to modders and server hosts for attempting to add unauthorized content. 

2. Regulatory Concerns

Even if Rockstar let them get away with it and allowed the project, a crypto-powered in-game economy would face a lot of scrutiny from the financial regulator world.

3. Monetization Issues 

Ross and Banks were intended to invest heavily in the project, but without Rockstar’s support, this is sure to go into a decline the moment the company presses for its deletion.

With such risks, however, it’s still anybody’s guess how far the duo can go in their vision before the law catches up with them.  

Crypto Gaming’s Rocky Road: Will Major Studios Ever Embrace Blockchain? 

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The gaming business has shown mixed reactions to blockchain. Though some developers welcome integration with Web3, others—like Rockstar—have actively fought the trend.  

Major Game Companies That Have Experimented with Crypto:

Rockstar’s resistance to crypto gaming aligns with other major publishers who view Web3 monetization as a potential legal and PR risk.

However, if the market trend changes and gamers want to have blockchain in their games, companies might turn around-just like Elon Musk and Donald Trump did after previously being anti-crypto. 

Conclusion: Will the Crypto GTA 6 Server Survive?

The vision of Ross and Banks for a crypto-driven GTA 6 server is lofty, but strict policies by Rockstar make this highly unlikely.

Unless Rockstar revises its stance, it would mean facing legal takedowns, financial hurdles, and potential regulatory scrutiny for the project.  

While blockchain continues to be toyed with within the gaming sphere, it has yet to be seen if big publishers such as Rockstar will ever properly welcome crypto in.  

For now, Ross and Banks’ GTA 6 server may be closer to fantasy rather than a conceivable reality.  

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FAQ

1. Why did Rockstar ban crypto and NFTs from GTA Online?

Rockstar banned blockchain-based assets in 2022 out of concerns for player monetization, scams, and unauthorized modifications within fan-run servers.

 2. Is Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency feature going to be featured in GTA 6?

Since 2021, there have been rumors that the rewards in GTA 6 will include in-game crypto, but Rockstar never confirmed that fact.

3. What happened to other crypto-integrated GTA servers?

Popular servers like Lil Durk’s “The Trenches” were forced to shut down after Rockstar issued legal warnings against NFT-based in-game economies.

 4. How could a crypto-based GTA 6 server face legal issues?

If Ross and Banks go ahead with the server, they face legal action from Rockstar over unauthorized modifications and possible regulations over financials for digital assets.  

5. What game companies have tried crypto?

Some developers, such as Ubisoft, Square Enix, and Epic Games, have toyed with blockchain gaming, but most big publishers are holding back.

Glossary

• GTA RP (Role-Playing) Servers: Player-owned custom servers in GTA Online where gamers can create unique experiences within modified gameplay mechanisms and virtual economies. 
• Take-Two Interactive : Parent company of Rockstar Games responsible for carrying out GTA’s legal policies on modification and putting an end to unauthorized modifications.
• Web3 Gaming: Using blockchain, cryptocurrency, and NFTs collectively within game environments to enable fully decentralized economies, or player-owned games.
• NFT: A unique digital asset residing on the blockchain, but most commonly for in-game items and collectibles.  
• Cryptocurrency in Gaming: This is a digital currency like Bitcoin or Ethereum used to enable various transactions, rewards, and economies within games.

 References

1. Decrypt
2. Bloomberg
3. CoinDesk
4. CoinTelegraph
5. Kotaku