>Why do you keep comparing it to another genre?

because pre-release the developers made the GTA comparison, every video game media outlet made the comparison, and every press piece regarding the game pre-release focused on the 'open-world' elements, while promising post-release multiplayer.

let's not pretend this was billed as a single-player RPG fantasy; it wasn't. It was toted as a GTA competitor in nearly every single way.

The post release narrative shift of "well it's a story-driven game from a well known story-driven 'RPG studio', it was YOUR expectations that were wrong! " was totally drawn hastily after release to try to assuage angry and disappointed fans during a rocky release.

aside : "rpg studio" is a thing now?