GTA is the exact same formula since GTA3.

Sure you get a different story, visual upgrades, and some newer cars. But you're not paying for a new gaming experience, it's essentially become what people made fun of CoD or Nintendo games for.

In that sense you'll get the same thrills from past games. That's also why I didn't give a shit about anything past 3, because I like to play new games not reskins.

I think it's only survived because it is in this niche of socially acceptable "cool" games. You can admit to playing GTA to almost anyone and your not as much a "gamng nerd", but if you like a fantasy RPG your some basement dwelling dweeb. Honestly they are not all that different from each other.