Since its release in 2013, Grand Theft Auto V has been one of the favorites for gamers globally, helping it become the series' most successful and acclaimed title. Moreover, a decade since its launch, the game remains one of the most popular among content creators across platforms.
Some influencers have made it the center of their live-streaming pursuits, while others use it to drive traffic upward and appeal to audiences not usually seen on their channels. To gauge how evergreen this open-world title is, here's a stat: it ranks tenth for the most watched game/category across platforms. When looking at a service like Twitch, where it is arguably the most famous and has some pretty prominent practitioners, it ranks third on the same table, beaten only by League of Legends among gaming titles.
One big reason for the continued success of this Rockstar Games classic is the advent of roleplaying servers. Such has been the success of these community-driven experiences that many players now exclusively play them instead of the main content, including any new (and interesting) that the developer keeps adding to the game's online component.
Having first gained attention between 2015 and 2016, which is when dedicated role-playing servers and mods like FiveM (a modification framework for GTA V) were coming up, GTA RP has now taken on a life of its own. Servers like NoPixel, Twitch RP, and Ignite Roleplay have become so famous that massive names like xQc, Loud Coringa, buddha, and PaulinhoLOKObr wholly immersed themselves in these experiences, helping give these modifications to the live-service title legitimacy and traction.
Today, these servers may not boast the same level of fame and traffic, especially from the prominent streamers, as they did during their pandemic heyday, but they continue to play a major part in the gaming content creation zeitgeist. In fact, GTA V owes much of its continued success in 2023 to this community component, as it is on course to beat its watch time from last year. Of course, the announcement and first trailer of GTA VI will not shift focus to the highly-anticipated new game, but roleplaying will forever have a place in Grand Theft Auto folklore.
Most watched GTA streamers in 2023
On top is PaulinhoLOKObr, perhaps the biggest name today in the discipline's content creation domain among Brazilian viewers. He continues to play a lot of GTA PR on his self-created server, Brazuca City, which includes collaborations with the likes of YoDa, Gaules, and alanzoka.
His gaming streams, which also take in titles like Fortnite, Among Us, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, have made him one of the most-watched Twitch streamers of all time. 2023 has been pretty successful for him as well, with his six most popular videos coming within a month thanks to content made within the roleplaying universe.
Making GTA V his main focus in 2023 has paid off handsomely for the second-placed LuquEt4. The Rio de Janeiro-based influencer was able to maintain his status as one of the most watched creators from his country this year on the purple platform.
The internet personality also streamed the game on Kick until June-July, although he focused much more on Slots & Casinos-related content there. However, on Twitch, videos related to Rockstar's epic title this year have become his most popular and watched overall, so it is hard to see him veer away from that practice anytime soon.
Loud Coringa, who has made it huge in the esports streaming world, completes the Brazilian trifecta on the podium. The online star may only have created a Twitch amidst the pandemic, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming one of his nation's foremost names over the past few years.
That he is also highly followed on YouTube, where he created a channel at the start of 2019, has helped the Sao Paulo resident attract millions of loyal fans across streaming services. He is another who had an intensely active subscriber base on Twitch thanks to his GTA RP streams, although those have considerably slowed down over the past few months.
Fourth is ファン太, perhaps Japan's biggest GTA streamer who more or less only plays this title when on air. Also known as Fanta in English, the Japanese sensation hasn't really played any roleplaying servers recently, but that hasn't stopped his fanbase from popping up in the thousands every time he comes online.
Coming in fifth is another Japanese creator, らっだぁ, who also goes by the name Radao-kun. Another influencer almost exclusively streaming GTA V, he plays a lot on the Stogra RP (also known as Stogura) server, where he lives out the life of Radao Aoi, the gameplay of which he often uploads on his YouTube channel as well.
JLTomy is sixth and makes it one of the only two Europeans on this leaderboard. The Frenchman is known for cycling through multiple games during live-streaming sessions, often playing three to four titles when on air.
He is followed by the only North American entry here, Lord_Kebun, who readers can find spending most of his time within the Prodigy Roleplay. He is the founder of the Chang Gang, an organized crime syndicate said to be the most powerful clique in Los Santos that usually gains power by using force and influence.
Two more Japanese streamers follow in the form of 叶ちゃんねる and fps_shaka. The former is a popular VTuber who can also be found on the Stogra RP, while the latter is perhaps Asia's biggest Twitch star often found wandering (or flying across) the streets of Los Santos. In the last spot is EWROON, the Polish influencer who also loves himself some roleplaying, as he often plays on this mode within the Warszawa RP.
Special mention must also go to MixiGaming from NimoTV, with the Vietnamese being one of the biggest names in the game outside the Western bubble and the two major platforms. Unfortunately, the correct data for this streaming service is not possible to come up with, but this Vietnamese internet personality has been able to outshine everyone when it comes to watch time for GTA content, notching a massive number that far outshines even the biggest names that have been mentioned elsewhere in this article.
Most watched NA GTA streamers in 2023
This table has a mixture of familiar names like summit1g, buddha, and Fanum and newer creators like dasMEHDI, Kyle, and Ray__C. What is undoubted is that NA remains a hotbed for GTA V and many other mainline games in the series.
Most watched European GTA streamers in 2023
The European list has its biggest name in the form of aminematue, but the rest of the entries have done their bit in ensuring the game remains a force even today. With so many RP servers popping up from across the continent, there is no doubt that many content creators are taking an interest in playing GTA V more often.
Most watched Japanese GTA streamers in 2023
Japan started slowly, but it has wholly embraced the crazed and chaotic environs of GTA V and its various roleplaying and online components. Today, it is one of the most popular regions for the game, with the anticipation for the new game adding to the fervor around the franchise.
