Sending wishes can pay off big. This is what Reddit user Starkinator3000 discovered when he shared an unexpected exchange with Rockstar Games support. Instead of reporting a bug or technical problem, he contented himself with a friendly message for the holidays. “Rockstar just gave a GTA Online player $1 million for wishing him a Merry Christmas.”
A bonus as surprising as it is exceptional, which rekindles discussions on Rockstar’s practices to reward its most benevolent players.
A caring message… rewarded in virtual currency
According to the screenshot posted on the GTA Online subreddit, Starkinator3000’s message consisted of simple well-wishes for the team. In return, Rockstar Support responded that they “sincerely appreciate” this gesture, and that the reward is a “testimony of appreciation” for his kindness.
This gesture, although not publicized by Rockstar, confirms that the publisher does not hesitate to show generosity, including outside of official promotions. However, it should be kept in mind that this is an isolated case, and that this personalized attention is not part of an overt campaign.
A rare practice… which risks spreading
As expected, this story quickly spread throughout the community. Other players are now planning to send their own Christmas messages in the hope of getting the same response. But the source remains clear on this point: “Don’t be surprised if, when you try, you receive no response or only a simple email instead of a million GTA dollars.”
This phenomenon could quickly lead to saturation of the medium, especially since the number of incoming messages risks soaring after the dissemination of this information.
Rockstar, a variable geometry reward policy
This is not the first time that Rockstar has thanked its players with in-game monetary rewards. In case of reporting valid bugs or technical issues, the studio sometimes offers GTA$ as compensation. “Bug reports often allow players to receive up to a million dollars in rewards,” we can read on several forums.
But this purely free gesture, without compensation or technical request, remains a notable first. An initiative which reminds us that a little kindness, even virtual, can have real effects – at least in the world of GTA Online.