TLDR;
This video explains why RADAL stopped making GTA videos, citing the immense effort required, burnout from the content, a general disinterest in modern gaming, and poor revenue due to audience demographics. Despite high view counts, the primary audience from countries with low advertising rates resulted in minimal income and difficulty securing sponsorships.
- Immense effort for low reward
- Burnout and disinterest in gaming
- Poor revenue due to audience demographics
- Difficulty securing sponsorships
Intro [0:00]
RADAL addresses the frequently asked question about the absence of new GTA videos on his channel. He explains that he started his YouTube career by uploading highly edited GTA mod videos, but it has been a long time since his last upload. He states that he can no longer avoid the question and will explain why he will probably never play GTA on his channel again.
Reason 1: Insane Amount of Effort [1:05]
RADAL explains the extensive production process behind his GTA mod videos, which goes beyond just recording and editing. This includes finding viral topics, writing detailed scripts, and spending up to two weeks searching for suitable mods, often editing or creating his own. He gives examples of creating custom textures for comedic effect, emphasizing the mind-numbing work involved in even simple changes. He also notes that much of this effort is often unseen by viewers, as unsuccessful scenes are cut from the final video. He also mentions that he often uses 100 mods in one video.
Reason 2: Burnout on GTA Content [5:06]
RADAL expresses feeling burned out on GTA content, a sentiment that began as early as his second Battle Royale video. He desires to evolve as a YouTuber and avoid repeating the same content. He acknowledges that his original audience has grown up, and he, too, is aging and wants to move on from GTA.
Reason 3: Dislike of Video Games [6:10]
RADAL confesses that he doesn't enjoy video games as much anymore, finding them uninteresting and plagued with negative news. He expresses that gaming is dead to him, and the only way he could see himself gaming again is if he is playing bad games and laughing about them.
Reason 4: Statistics and Money [7:22]
RADAL discusses how GTA videos negatively impact his revenue and channel growth. He explains that his RPM (revenue per thousand views) during his peak GTA modding phase was extremely low, sometimes as little as 45 cents. This means that even with millions of views, his earnings were minimal. He contrasts this with other YouTubers who earn significantly more with fewer views due to their audience demographics.
Audience Geographics and RPM [10:50]
RADAL explains that audience geography is a key factor in determining revenue. During his GTA San Andreas phase, a large portion of his audience came from countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and India, which have very low RPMs. He contrasts this with the United States, which has a much higher RPM. He explains that GTA San Andreas is popular in these regions because it is easy to pirate and can be played on low-end computers.
Advertising and Sponsorship Challenges [13:30]
RADAL explains that advertisers target wealthier countries with their ads, resulting in lower ad revenue for content watched in less affluent regions. He laments the effort he puts into his videos compared to the low revenue he receives. He also discusses the difficulty of securing sponsorships due to his audience demographics, with many potential sponsors ghosting him after seeing the high percentage of viewers from Indonesia and the Philippines.
Conclusion [18:31]
RADAL summarizes that he stopped making GTA videos because they were not fun, caused burnout, did not generate enough revenue, and offered limited sponsorship opportunities. He decided to focus on content that appeals to Western viewers to improve his channel's financial prospects. While he cannot promise never to make GTA videos again, especially with the release of GTA 6, he is currently focused on growing his channel in a new direction.
