Roleplay servers require a lot of human moderation, else it won't be roleplay and it will be trollish and simply like an advanced Cops and Robbers mode. The development isn't the problem. They could make a server listing and make 'FiveM' or 'RageMP' part of the default experience. Although a lot of these servers ask for donations so they may not want to redirect players away from the stuff they sell.
RP goes way back than 5, as a matter of fact there are still active servers for GTA San Andreas Roleplay (SAMP) and of course Arma was popular in the past.
No, no, no. Roleplay servers do not require human moderation. What all these servers seem to miss is that you should enforce your design objectives through game design rather than moderation and rules. Eve Online is the best example of this; it's what every role-play server aspires to be. Moderation is minimal; the game takes care of all issues that arise long before human moderation has to get involved.
Eve Online sort of cheats by being a corporate backstabbing and trade game, the set of actions that the characters might want to take can literally be performed by the players. This seems more like a LARP (just, LARPing as a person using a computer), rather than a conventional videogame where you control an avatar and make it do things. And LARPs are typically a more immersive way of roleplaying.
>Roleplay servers require a lot of human moderation, else it won't be roleplay and it will be trollish
Lets not forget the regular online is just 3 people chasing you around the map on their hover bikes with rocket launchers no matter what server you end up on.
RP goes way back than 5, as a matter of fact there are still active servers for GTA San Andreas Roleplay (SAMP) and of course Arma was popular in the past.