In the latest GTA Online event, dubbed Bottom Dollar Bounties, players can finally experience the thrill of bounty hunting in Los Santos, alongside the introduction of the new Vinewood Club app. This app allows players to conveniently request vehicles, collect earnings from their businesses, and restock ammo directly from their in-game phones—a much-needed improvement given the previous hassle of cash collection in the game.
However, Rockstar has chosen to make this feature exclusive to GTA+ subscribers, who pay $8 a month. This decision has sparked considerable backlash among players, with many expressing disappointment over essential quality-of-life updates being locked behind a paywall. Concerns about the future implications for GTA 6 Online have also surfaced, with fans worried that such monetization strategies may become more prevalent.
“Imagine gating one of the most requested features behind a paywall in a game that’s over 10 years old,” criticizes Xplosiv84. MaxAliga chimes in with “Pay more, play less,” while IDKRedditsz, even as a GTA+ subscriber, finds the decision “dumb AF” for excluding non-subscribers. The community’s dissatisfaction is palpable, with not a single positive reaction in sight for a feature long sought-after—an easier method to manage earnings without the need to physically visit each location.
Adding insult to injury, PC players face an even harsher reality. Despite GTA Online’s success on PC, Rockstar maintains feature parity with last-generation consoles rather than the next-gen versions, where GTA+ subscription is available. This disparity further fuels frustration among players already disillusioned by the recent developments.
Rockstar’s decision to gate essential features behind a paywall in GTA Online, while also neglecting PC players, has stirred frustration and sparked discussions about the future of the franchise, particularly with the upcoming release of GTA 6 next summer. Despite the enormous revenue GTA Online generates—reportedly half a billion dollars annually—the introduction of GTA+ and its perceived exploitative monetization tactics have left many players discontented.
Looking ahead, there’s an expectation that GTA 6 will inevitably include an enhanced online component, likely accompanied by a subscription service from day one. This trend suggests that Rockstar, despite player feedback, prioritizes profit over community satisfaction—a sentiment amplified by recent decisions.