GTA Online Update: Paid Subscription Limits Features

Grand Theft Auto Online's latest update, Bottom Dollar Bounties, introduces a controversial change impacting passive income collection from player-owned businesses. This convenient feature, allowing remote collection of business earnings via the in-game Vinewood Club app, is now exclusively available to GTA+ subscribers.

Since GTA 5's 2013 release, Rockstar Games has consistently expanded GTA Online with substantial updates, including numerous purchasable businesses. These businesses generate passive income, traditionally requiring players to visit each location individually for collection. The Bottom Dollar Bounties update streamlines this process for GTA+ members, offering a significant quality-of-life improvement. Non-subscribers, however, are left with the previous, more cumbersome method.

This decision contradicts prior assurances from Rockstar that gameplay features wouldn't be gated behind the GTA+ subscription. The move has fueled negative sentiment, particularly following a recent GTA+ price increase. Concerns are rising that Rockstar might continue this practice in future updates, leveraging exclusive features to enhance GTA+'s value proposition.

This development raises potential concerns for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, slated for a Fall 2025 release. While Rockstar hasn't detailed GTA 6's online component, the current trajectory of GTA Online suggests a possible continuation of the GTA+ model, potentially with an even greater influence. The reception to this approach remains uncertain, but the current lukewarm reaction to GTA+ suggests a challenging path ahead for Rockstar.